If God is all loving, then why Saul?

[PaoloNuevo]

I won't post this in "Arguments against UR" since this doesn't have anything to do with UR vs ET...

But anyway, if God is all loving why didn't He reinstate Saul or show him mercy while he was still alive, and why did God accuse him for not carrying out an assassination of the Amalekite peoples?

Also, why was it so important for God that the Amalekites be slaughtered, if He is a merciful God?

(Disregarding the fact that God will redeem Saul through Jesus Christ on the day of ressurection).

[jabcat]

I don't think the last sentence can be disregarded, because that's literally and figuratively  :bigGrin: the bottom line.  IMO, many things God does in the temporal can ONLY be made some sense of by our mortal minds by realizing that He has a bigger plan than the temporal - His plan to redeem all.

So if He chooses to use an individual (Saul, Pharoah), or even a nation (Israel set aside, the Gentiles given grace, to provoke Israel to jealousy) for His purposes - whether temporal, but always ultimately "eternal" - then it all fits with His ultimate plan to bring mankind full circle and back to Himself.   :2c:

[PaoloNuevo]

I see! Thanks Bro James...  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Oh yeah I forgot about Pharaoh... I guess it's all in order.  :winkgrin:

[jabcat]

Oh, I don't mean to end the discussion.  I was just thinking about this.  Do you think God may deal with us at least somewhat differently since the cross?  I've thought of starting a discussion on this...I've got some things rattling around in my head I'd like to "put on paper" and see what it looks like - then have them applied to my heart.   :HeartThrob:

[PaoloNuevo]

Good question there!

But before that, I forgot about Satan too... since most of us believe in a literal wayward spirit as that, then that guy is in constant anger, toil and he is still in unforgiveness... but even that is in order too, right?

As for God dealing with us differently since The Cross.. well, some might adopt a cessasionist perspective in that God no longer speaks to people one on one as in the Old Testament.

There have been records of "miracles" inside the Roman church, but we should be cautious because Paul warned that the lawless one will employ such deceptions with signs and lying wonders (2 Thes. 2: 9 - 10 KJV).

I've heard of prayers being answered like malignant tumors simply vanishing or cancers being cured, either through prayer or positive thinking (some of these both inside AND outside the belief systems of JESUS CHRIST)..

But yes, I suppose He deals with us more indirectly... Peter wrote that in the latter days people will be scoffers and forget their Creator and forget the fact that He is coming again.. but perhaps there is a reason why God chooses not to deal directly with us as in the O.T.

New discussion?  :winkgrin:

[Beloved Servant]

IN the OT God deals without.
In the NT God deals within.

[Beloved Servant]

In each one of our lives there is:
Adam,
and
Christ.

And EVERYTHING in between.

We all are put into Egypt as Benjamin;
Delivered as by Moses;
Overcomers as by Joshua.

[PaoloNuevo]

In each one of our lives there is:
Adam,
and
Christ.

And EVERYTHING in between.

We all are put into Egypt as Benjamin;
Delivered as by Moses;
Overcomers as by Joshua.

:thumbsup:

[CHB]

Oh, I don't mean to end the discussion.  I was just thinking about this.  Do you think God may deal with us at least somewhat differently since the cross?  I've thought of starting a discussion on this...I've got some things rattling around in my head I'd like to "put on paper" and see what it looks like - then have them applied to my heart.   :HeartThrob:

I am looking forward to that discussion. I have been wondering about this for some time now.

CHB

[Quaesitor]

I'm leaning toward believing that the cross took away the sins of the world in the sense that there is no more punishing to be done.
What we see is men reaping what they sow, violence breeding violence and so forth but God do not intervene to destroy the wicked anymore. He doesn't make fire rain from heavens on cities anymore or make a people kill another people as a judgement for their overall wickedness.

I may be wrong because it's so hard to see clearly through this glass darkly. :happy3:

I'd love to hear you brothers on this subject.

[thinktank]

According to the scriptures there is more punishment for the wicked.

The wrath of God abideth on those without the son.

So basically more cruelty to come in an already cruel world.

Sometimes I wish God would lighten up a bit and cheer up, but I guess some people deserve it for their extreme wickedness, but I am more concerned about the innocent who are caught up in the deception to come.