The Justice and Grace of God

Judgement and Grace
Obadiah and Jonah
“I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and one who relents concerning calamity.” Jonah 4:2
One reason people do not like to read the Old Testament, especially the prophetic books, is that they seem so dark and foreboding. The continual pronouncement of coming judgment becomes unrelenting. From the prophetic passages, people conclude that the wrath and severity of judgment conflict with Christ's message that God is gracious and abounding in mercy. However, we often miss one very important truth. All the judgments pronounced in the prophets came before the events rather than after them. Such is the case with the pronouncement of Obadiah of God’s impending judgment upon the nation of Edom for their violence and spiritual arrogance. Rather than follow God, Edom rebelled against God and even rejoiced when Israel was led into captivity. However, God pronounces judgment upon them and warns of the coming Day of the Lord, when He will bring judgment upon the nations. The Day of the Lord (Obadiah 15) in the Bible refers to the end of the age when Christ will return and bring salvation for His people. It is also a day of severe judgment in which God pours out His wrath upon sin. However, Obediah was not proclaiming what had already taken place, but what will take place.
Thus, we are left with the question, “Why did God always pronounce the judgment before the actual event?” The prophet Jonah knew the answer, and because he knew it, instead of going to pronounce judgment upon Ninevah (located in modern-day Iran), he fled in the opposite direction to Tarshish (probably located in southern Spain). He did not flee because he was fearful of the Assyrian people putting him to death for announcing judgment. He fled because he knew the heart of God. While God will bring judgment upon sin, Jonah also knew that no matter how evil people are (the Assyrians were the most feared nation because of their brutality toward the people they conquered), God would still demonstrate His grace and compassion if they repented (Jonah 4:4). He did not flee because he was afraid they would brutally mistreat him for pronouncing judgment; he fled because he knew that if they repented, God would forgive.
Although it is not explicitly stated, whenever God pronounced judgment, there was an opportunity for forgiveness if the people heeded the warning and repented of their sin. This is why the warnings of judgment came before the event. God is not cruel, vindictive, or harsh. Nevertheless, He is holy and just and will judge sin and sinners. However, He is also loving and gracious and will forgive even the worst sinner who repents and seeks Him. People are condemned to hell not because God is vindictive, but because they refuse to repent, turn from their selfish pride, seek God's forgiveness and submit to God’s sovereign reign in their lives. In the New Testament, we see Christ coming to offer grace and forgiveness to all who seek Him. Yet we often ignore the warnings He gave in the same breath as His judgment of sin and sinners who refuse His offer of grace. No matter how sinful we are, He extends His offer of grace. The only reason we face the condemnation of God is that we refuse to accept this offer. When you read the prophets, take their warnings to heart and remember that God is just and holy and will judge sin. But also recognize that the pronouncement of judgment was also an offer of grace and forgiveness if we repent, turn from our sin, and seek him.