God is both. The movie that best captures my view of my father is Mel Gibson’s THE PATRIOT. The dad is wise and thoughtful, avoiding war, but when war comes for his sons, he takes action in a manner that is fierce to say the least.
God hates sin and will destroy those who would destroy His children. But God remains a God of compassion. He is not like us—He does not lose His temper. He always tempers His anger with love and grace.
“How can I give you up, Israel?… I have had a change of heart. My compassion is stirred! I will not vent the full fury of My anger. I will not destroy you. FOR I AM GOD AND NOT MAN, THE HOLY ONE AMONG YOU. I WILL NOT COME IN RAGE” Hosea 11:8-9.
God states the obvious—”I am God and not man”—He controls His anger, even setting it aside. Then He speaks of the roar of a lion. Lions are terrifying—on quiet nights their roar can be heard five miles away. Lions are sort of the Great White Sharks of the savannah—hunting in complete silence. Men have been pulled from tents by their heads, the lion’s top and bottom incisors meeting in the center of the man’s skull. Imagine the size and power of those jaws. But if the lion is your father—if you are his cub—the roar has a different meaning, and when you hear it, you come.
“The Lord… will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west,” from Egypt, from Assyria, “and I will settle them in their homes” vv.10-11.
No one can roar like God. HE IS GOD AND NOT MAN… He will not come in rage. And when He roars, He will call you home to a place where He can protect you.
God, thank you that You are kind enough to comfort us, and strong enough to defend us. You inspire us.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 