What can we learn about God's character from His actions in this verse? Setting the Scene David’s sin in ordering a census brought judgment on Israel. God allowed a devastating plague, yet He remained fully in control of its extent and duration. The Verse in Focus “Then God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, ‘Enough! Withdraw your hand.’ At that time the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.” (1 Chronicles 21:15) God’s Holiness and Justice • Sin matters to God. The plague was a righteous response to David’s disobedience (vv. 1–14). • Romans 6:23 reminds us, “For the wages of sin is death.” God’s actions are never arbitrary; they flow from perfect holiness. • Habakkuk 1:13 affirms, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil.” God’s Mercy and Compassion • “The LORD saw and relented from the calamity.” His justice never overshadows His compassion. • Psalm 103:8–10 echoes this balance: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious… He has not dealt with us according to our sins.” • Jonah 4:2 notes that God is “gracious and compassionate… slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion, and One who relents from sending disaster.” God’s Responsiveness to Repentance • David confessed, “I have sinned greatly… take away the iniquity of Your servant” (v. 8). • Ezekiel 33:11 reveals God’s heart: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” • When genuine repentance appears, God answers with pardon and relief. God’s Absolute Sovereignty and Authority • He commands an angelic being with a single word: “Enough!” • Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as “ministering spirits sent out to serve.” They act only under God’s sovereign directive. • Job 38:11 shows God setting boundaries even for the seas: “This far you may come, but no farther.” The same divine authority curbs judgment here. God’s Precision and Purpose • The angel stops at the threshing floor of Ornan—the very site where Solomon’s temple will be built (2 Chronicles 3:1). • God weaves mercy and judgment into a redemptive plan, turning a place of restraint into the future center of worship. Insights for Today From this single verse, we see that God is: • Holy—cannot ignore sin. • Just—must address wrongdoing. • Compassionate—quick to show mercy. • Responsive—moves when people repent. • Sovereign—commands angels and events. • Purposeful—directs history toward worship and redemption. These traits invite trust: the God who rightly judges is the same God who lovingly says, “Enough,” when hearts turn back to Him. |
    |