A Balanced View of God

In Exodus 7-12, we read about the plagues that God sent throughout all of Egypt because of the stubbornness of Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Many skeptics might read about this account and wonder, “How could a loving God destroy His own creation (Colossians 1:16)?“ More often than not, God is misunderstood as the God Who wants to condemn people as soon as they mess up. However, in Exodus 34, we get an accurate image of Who God is. He is a compassionate and gracious God Who is slow to anger and abounds in faithful love and truth, willing to forgive every one of his or her iniquities, but He will not let the guilty go unpunished (Exodus 34:6-7). Just like any good father would, God rebukes those whom He loves when they do wrong (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:6). He is not a God Who wants to condemn everyone to Hell (2 Peter 3:9), but rather He is our holy and righteous Father Who is ready to forgive, to show constant mercy and to bestow unconditional love (Psalm 145:8-9).