Can a Merciful God also be Vengeful?

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A biblical breakdown on why God’s loving and wrathful
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As you study scripture, you may realize that God is angrier than you initially thought. He’s waged war and killed sinners’ children and grandchildren (Exodus 34)—is He a merciful God or a vengeful God? The Lord happens to be both. Like a strict father, God is extremely protective over you. While He loves you, He also holds you to high standards. In this article, we’ll describe God’s reasoning and explain why He’s as merciful as He is vengeful.

Section 1 of 5:

Is God merciful or vengeful?

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    Yes, you read that right—God is both loving and wrathful. But how can that be? How can a graceful God also be an angry God? To put it simply, let’s think of God as a strict parent. He loves you no matter what, but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t get disappointed or upset by your actions.

    Everyone sins. Everyone is susceptible to Satan, and this is why God has to be vengeful. He knows that not every intention is pure: “God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth...the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies” (Nahum 1:2). [1]

    While the Lord may not bring His wrath onto you, He will show His anger to those who deceive Him. After all, He’s the almighty judge: “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:5). [2]

    At the end of the day, God is a loving God. As a loving but righteous father, God wants you to fear Him so you don’t fall under Satan’s spell: “Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12). [3]
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Section 2 of 5:

What does this mean for Christians?

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    It’s okay to fear God—it’s actually encouraged! [4] If you fear God’s wrath, you fear eternal punishment, which inevitably pushes you to follow the Lord’s commands. God instills fear through His almighty power to show that He loves you. [5]
    • So, what can you do to honor the Lord and escape His wrath? Follow His word. Being a devout Christian doesn’t mean you’re absent of sin; it means you do everything you can to ignore temptation and live a faithful life.
    • As the Bible says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). [6]
Section 3 of 5:

What is mercy?

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    In the Bible, being merciful is the act of helping someone in distress regardless of the ability to punish or harm them. God has the power to be harmful, yet He shows kindness to those who need it most. [7]
    • Think of mercy as a kind gift given to someone suffering.
    • Mercy can look like not complaining when something has gone wrong or correcting someone gently.
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Section 4 of 5:

What is vengeance?

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    In the Bible, vengeance isn’t always a malicious or retaliating act but a term to describe restoring wholeness and integrity. God unleashes His wrath on those who have wronged Him who do not seek redemption. While His vengeful acts may seem vindictive, they are justice-seeking. [8]
    • As it says in the Bible, “The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve” (Psalm 94:1-2), and, “because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood…Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not” (Joel 3:19-21). [9]
Section 5 of 5:

The Bottom Line

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    As a father, He cares deeply for His people, but He also can’t ignore deceit. The Lord’s love is what makes Him vengeful, and His vengeful nature comes from the need to protect.

    As the Bible states, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:6-7). [10]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Is God's judgment vengeance?
    Cameron Diamond
    Christian Theology Expert
    Cameron Diamond is a Christian Theology Expert based in Jonesville, Florida. With 16 years of experience in the Christian ministry, Cameron has held various ministry positions and is currently a Pastor and Worship Leader at Jonesville Baptist Church. He has served as a Pastor for students for 10 years. He hosts a Christian faith podcast called Innerlight Discipleship. He is an Outpost Director for Stand to Reason, an apologetics ministry that encourages discipleship and relational evangelism through Socratic reason. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. He has an MA in Christian Studies and a BA in Music from the Baptist College of Florida. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry in Theologies and Apologetics from Liberty University.
    Cameron Diamond
    Christian Theology Expert
    Expert Answer
    People might call it vengeance, but this perspective overlooks the true nature of God's actions. When God judges, He is enforcing justice on His creations who have defied His purpose for them. As an example, the Canaanites and Semites in the Old Testament engaged in defying practices, warranting God's judgment. This judgment is not an act of personal retribution but a fulfillment of divine justice. Remember that God's actions are driven by His righteousness and the need to uphold moral order, not by a desire for revenge.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nahum%201%3A2&version=KJV
      2. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+2%3A5&version=NIV
      3. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%205%3A11-12&version=NIV
      4. ↑ https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-answers/spirituallife/what-does-it-mean-to-fear-god.html
      5. ↑ https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-is-the-fear-of-god
      6. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+12%3A19&version=NIV
      7. ↑ https://www.compassion.com/poverty/mercy-definition.htm
      8. ↑ https://anabaptistwiki.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Vengeance_(in_Psalms)
      9. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+3%3A19-21&version=NIV
      1. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+34%3A6-8&version=NIV

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