“Behold! therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in (Him)” (Romans 11:22a).
God's severity came to mind while contemplating the on-going disintegration of the USA as "one nation under God", the unspeakable suffering of the Haitian people, and a host of others horrors around the world. Though regularly feeling crushed by the weight of these things, I am returned by Grace, again and again, to God's goodness in severity.
Humanity fell under God's severe and Holy Justice and God has since communicated His goodness in Jesus Christ through, among other things, His severity. Consider events like the worldwide flood (Genesis 6:1-8), Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20,21; 19:1,15-16, 24-28), Elisha and the Bears (2 Kings 2:11-12, 23-24) and many others since.
Severities point to God's goodness in at least 3 ways:
1) In all severities God leaves a testimony of His goodness in a remnant. (Micah 5:7)
2) In all severities God sustains the faith He has gifted into eternity. (Matthew 28:18-20)
3) In all severities God makes good on His promise of deliverance (Hebrews 11).
God showers His unmerited favor (Grace) to some without obligation, while He is justified in His severity to all (Truth). Severities certainly might cause sudden irregular emotions to rise in the coal mine of our hearts and fuel devious plans to modify the hardship God intended for good. But the Spirit will progressively move those hearts toward the "obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) so that "every thought" will become "captive" to Him. Eventually, we'll embrace the pain of what comes because in severity, God proves His good to us.
"The remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for mortals or depend on any human being." (Micah 5:7)
