1. A Loving God Wouldn’t Do That

2.  Atheists argue against God:  God is by definition all powerful and all loving.  Such a God would not allow pain and suffering to exist  Pain and suffering DO exist  Therefore, there is no good, all powerful, loving God

3.  2 Samuel 6:6-7 – “…Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it….And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.”

4.  “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.”

5.  Judah’s eldest son killed by the Lord for being wicked, leaving no child for Tamar.  Judah’s second born son refuses to honor his brother and have a child with Tamar for his brother.  So God kills him as well.  Would a loving God do this?

6.  Job 5:17 – “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”  Eliaphaz

7.  Job 2:9-10 -- Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

8.  Pain and suffering are bad  Exercise?  Burned Finger?

9.  Romans 5:3 – “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance….

10.  As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

11.  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

12.  Romans 3:10-12- - “There is none righteous, not even one…All have turned aside…There is none who does good, There is not even one.”

13.  Balancing Love and justice  Psalm 94:1-3 --O Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud. How long shall the wicked, O Lord, How long shall the wicked exult?

14.  Leviticus 10:3 – “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘It is what the Lord spoke, saying, “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy….’””

15.  “You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the Lord who sanctifies you….

16.  ”I will vindicate the holiness of My great name…which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord…when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.”