Too Bad God Isn’t in the Smiting Business Anymore

Today’s scripture: Isaiah 37:36-38 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Vivian Ampy):

Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.

In the Sixties, when it appeared to many that the people in the United States had lost their collective minds, I wondered why God didn’t just wipe those mean people off the face of the earth. Although they were being hateful in the name of Jesus, I never believed that God felt the way they did. And yet, God did not smite.

When the shooting occurred in Orlando, again, I found myself wondering why God didn’t just wipe hateful ministers and hateful congressmen off the face of the earth. They say inflammatory things and take no responsibility when someone acts because of their words. In fact, they applaud at the lives lost. And yet, God did not smite.

Some Christians say that God smote New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina and Indonesia with a tsunami because of the various sins (based on whom you were talking with) of the people. But to me that was just people creating God in their own image. They thought the people were sinning; therefore, God must have thought so too.

But then I have to come face to face with grace. God did not smite me when I did things that I’m sure God was not pleased with.

Prayer for the day: God, let me never be a Christian who thinks you hate the people I hate. I thank you for your grace and love. Amen

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.