That's A Mean One

And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. Deuteronomy 28:63

This is one of those verses from the Old Testament that to the unbeliever proves God's meanness. This is of course to ignore the first part about rejoicing in doing good and multiplying, but also ignores the text that goes on all around it. But we who believe in the Christ might also have a little question arise from this verse: How could the Lord rejoice over destroying those He loves?!!

Here is where you and I can have faith and separate ourselves, quite rapidly really, from the world and what it thinks it knows. We can believe God rejoices because there is good in the destruction of Israel in this case, but perhaps of us too in another case.

It is clear that the destruction is of Israel as a nation in this case. In later verses, Israel is promised a scattering and no rest among the nations to which it is plucked off to.. We too may be plucked off to somewhere else to remove something or someone from our lives by way of the Lord, to meet new people (especially those who do not yet believe in Him), and/or to be discipled by another teacher. There may be other reasons, but the old normal of life is lost and a new life begins in another place. Much like salvation this is! (Do I hear a Yoda-like voice somewhere?)

Now, let us ask the question again. Is God being mean or is God being loving and good by making sure that any destruction is carefully meted out to any and all He loves, so that evil influences are removed from us (or we from them), and all will work out for our good as our Lord rejoices over what will come from His firm steps?

Tough times in life are not a sign of God being mean to us, but of His love!

Bucky