Daily Butter 11/14: Complete Picture

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (11/14/11):

    Even if He causes suffering,
    He will show compassion
    according to His abundant, faithful love.

 

    For He does not enjoy bringing affliction
    or suffering on mankind.

(Lamentations 3:32-33 HCSB)

There has always been a struggle for me to understand Scripture. If (as I believe by faith) God is the “Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13) and “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews13:8), this makes some very tough quandaries: How is it that He who commanded His people Israel to wipe out entire families, towns and nations (e.g., Joshua 11:12) is the same God who desires none would perish (2 Peter 3:9). Even in the midst of his grief, Jeremiah gives a glimpse into God’s dilemma: balancing His love with the demands of His holiness forces Him to make tough choices. We have the benefit of looking back from this point in history to see that His answer was to bear the burden of atoning for our unholiness Himself (John 3:16; Philippians 2:6-10). But just because He chose that, does not mean it was easy for Him (Luke 22:42). I still can’t say I understand it, but I can say for certain that I am eternally thankful the He did.

- Andy Jentes