God’s Response to Sin
At times the Lord allows sin to run its full course. After the exodus, He promised Israel blessings if they were obedient; when they persistently disobeyed, He “gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart.” (Psalms 81:8-12) God was in control but chose to let them experience the consequences of their rebellion. At other times, God intervened to protect the vulnerable. For example, when Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister, King Abimelech unknowingly brought her into his household. God stepped in, not to override human will but to shield a man who didn’t deserve the fallout of Abraham’s deception. (Gen. 20:6) For believers, God promises to limit temptation’s effect by providing a way of escape. (1 Cor. 10:13) We may not always understand why the Lord allows some sin to play out but intervenes in other situations. However, we can trust that His character never changes and that He always keeps His promises. Though His responses may vary, His goodness does not.
