Do keep the violence in perspective. God made a covenant with the people of ancient Israel. The covenant through Moses stated that God would bless them with his protection and provision if they obeyed him, and visit them with war, death, diseases, and other judgments if they turned away from him (Deuteronomy 28:1-68). They knew these conditions in advance and accepted them.
We make a similar agreement with the laws of our land. If we murder someone, we can expect punishments in the form of incarceration or the death penalty. However, we hope the penalties for breaking the law will deter most people.
Today a new covenant is in effect between God and his people. The blessings of the old covenant depended on how well the ancient Israelites obeyed God, and they failed miserably. The new covenant rests on God’s faithfulness and promises, neither of which can fail. We enjoy the blessings of the new covenant when we act in faith toward God.
Why did God treat the nation of Israel so violently? When the nation of Israel turned its back on trusting God, he afflicted the nation in various ways according to his agreement with them. When Israel returned to God, he forgave them as he promised, then brought them peace and prosperity again. The violence was not capricious, but used judiciously to encourage them to return to a proper relationship with their God.
What Do You Think?
a. Do you agree that criminals deserve the violence they experience in prison? Do you agree that ruthless street criminals deserve to die when they are killed by a rival street criminals? Why or why not?
b. Do you agree with the laws of the land that will result in imprisonment or confiscation of your driver’s license if you violate certain state vehicle laws?
