If individuals steal, get caught, and end up in prison, would they say this is God’s punishment? When does God punish humans, and how?
Job’s Trial
“Satan said, ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land’” (Job 1:10 ESV). “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand’” (Job 1:12 ESV).
I hope that I can convey this with my feelings rather than just words because if you truly understand this, not only will you love God more, but you will also find a reason to pray and hold tight to Him.
In the story of Job, Satan was jealous and furious, wanting to destroy Job because he was a righteous man. But Satan couldn’t succeed because God is in control. Satan can’t simply step into our lives and cause chaos. If he could, that would mean he is more powerful than God, and we would be doomed. Thankfully, God has set limits on Satan, preventing him from crossing them. God loves us, just like in the story of Job. He forms a hedge around our lives, ensuring our safety within it. This hedge protects us from the fiery arrows Satan may send our way.
As long as we remain within our “house” with Jesus, we are safe. But there are two possible scenarios that can happen next:
Scenario 1 – Temptations
First, we might hear joyful sounds and see sparkling lights over the hedge—these represent temptations. If, with our own will, we decide to cross the hedge, we allow ourselves to enter trials and leave God’s embrace, where love and safety reside. He will keep knocking on our doors, urging us to return quickly. If we return, we will be saved. But if we choose to stay outside the hedge, consequences will follow.
“… How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken …” (Luke 13:34-35 ESV).
If we choose to stay outside the protective hedge God has lovingly created around us—despite all of God’s efforts to call us back—it may be perceived as a betrayal of His kindness and love. In response, God may temporarily leave us, causing the hedge to crumble. Our homes become vulnerable to Satan and his destructive arrows, which leads to chaos and despair.
“Why have You broken down her hedges, so that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit? The boar out of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast of the field devours it” (Psalm80:12-13).
Some people don’t care about their homes. They are too focused on indulging their desires. They may refuse to acknowledge God, too infatuated with the temporary pleasure that sin offers. Despite this, God continually calls them back to His safety, where He can protect them and provide shelter. But if they stubbornly refuse, they risk being left vulnerable to their enemies.
And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your lofty places. They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare. They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.(Ezekiel 16:39-40 ESV)
Note the repetition of the word “they”—this points to the vicious enemies of Satan and his soldiers. When we are far from God, “they” show no mercy. Once, God was our mighty protector, but now, because of our love for darkness and our addictions, He becomes a stranger. He stands outside our door, constantly knocking, hoping that we will open it one day. Throughout all of this, God has not punished or harmed anyone.
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one” (James 1:13 ESV). “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28 ESV).
Eventually, you will run out of something. It could be money, health, or even freedom if you get caught and jailed. You might also lose friends if they no longer want you around, the love of a spouse, or even the peace in your heart—leading to anxiety, depression, and a deep longing for change. We often mistake these hardships as God’s punishment, but in reality, He is not the cause. Instead, you are experiencing what life feels like to be without His protection.
Once you come to your senses and call on Him, He will come quickly. However, He won’t move until you ask. He has the power to perform countless miracles, but you must first invite Him in.
Scenario 2 – Testing Your Faith
This applies to all saints and those already walking with God so they may bear more fruit. Many godly individuals—such as Ibrahim, Joseph, David, and others—exemplified this truth. They chose to remain within the protective hedge that God had placed around them. They loved Him wholeheartedly, yet they still faced trials. These challenges ultimately transformed their lives.
Ibrahim left his family and became a stranger in the wilderness. Though he longed for a son, he had to wait many years until old age before his prayers were answered. Eventually, he became the father of generations.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Despite his honesty and integrity, he found himself imprisoned. However, he ultimately rose to become a prominent figure in Egypt and saved countless people from famine.
David, knowing he was anointed to be king, still honored Saul as the Lord’s chosen one. This forced him to flee for his life, but it also led to the creation of the Psalms, which continue to inspire and guide believers today.
These individuals never abandoned God’s house. They remained within His protection; yet, they still endured testing. Their trials were not punishments for wrongdoing, but rather, they were allowed by God in His love to keep them from pride and self-righteousness. As Proverbs 16:18 warns: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Additionally, God used their trials to prepare them for greater blessings, as seen in the lives of David and Joseph. Their faith was tested so that when they endured, they could receive the ultimate reward:
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12 ESV). “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2).
David’s Punishment
What may seem like punishment is often the result of human choices—troubles that God allows to unfold. With His foreknowledge, He permits these events to occur and uses them as a means of discipline and growth. Let’s explore this concept further through the story of David. He committed a sin, and God punished him with the following consequences:
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun” (2 Samuel 12:11 ESV).
During this time, David had a trusted counselor named Ahithophel.
“Now, in those days, the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom” (2 Samuel 16:23 ESV).
Initially, Ahithophel served as David’s advisor, but he eventually turned against him and supported Absalom, David’s son, in his pursuit of the throne. When the conflict arose, Ahithophel gave Absalom the following advice:
“Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened’” (2 Samuel 16:21 ESV).
Ahithophel’s counsel to Absalom was part of God’s punishment of David. Absalom, David’s own son and neighbor, publicly fulfilled this punishment by taking his father’s concubines. God allowed this to happen as a direct consequence of David’s sin—taking a woman who did not belong to him. However, as Ahithophel continued to scheme against David, God, who is ultimately in control, rejected his plan.
“Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king’” (2 Samuel 17:1-2 ESV).
If Absalom had followed Ahithophel’s plan and attacked that night, David’s life would have been taken. But God intervened by sending a different advisor to Absalom, who gave contrary advice.
“And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.’ For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom” (2 Samuel 17:14 ESV).
Punishment or Protection?
You may notice many arrows from Satan aimed at you—bringing trouble from various sources such as work, school, friends, family, strangers, law enforcement, lies, deceit, betrayal, adultery, anger, and other sins. However, in His love, God protects both the righteous and the unrighteous from these attacks.
When we fall into sin, God allows some arrows related to that sin to be released and hurt us—not to destroy us, but so that we may recognize our weakness and run back to Him, avoiding greater harm from more arrows. This is essentially the philosophy behind God’s discipline: He is not actively punishing anyone but is allowing consequences He would normally prevent from occurring. Through these experiences, we may feel crushed, yet they drive us to seek refuge in Him.
If you desire a peaceful life free from temptation, you must hold tightly to God through prayer and a personal relationship with Him. This will protect you from falling into temptation, just as Jesus Himself taught His disciples:
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38 ESV).
For instance, engaging in habitual masturbation and pornography can lead to physical consequences such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, infections, or other health issues. In these situations, you might feel as if God is punishing you. But if this were truly God’s punishment, wouldn’t it have happened from the very beginning? After all, many people persist in such behaviors for years before experiencing any consequences. The reason for this delay is simple—God loves you and has shown you kindness. He has been patient, giving you time to turn away from sin. However, if you continue to reject Him, you leave Him no choice but to withdraw His protection for a moment, allowing you to experience life without Him.
Consider this: how many times have you heard of people getting into legal trouble for downloading copyrighted materials; yet, you have avoided such consequences? How many times have you worried about being discovered by friends and family but still maintained a good image in their eyes? How many times have conflicts arisen in your home that could have led to divorce, but God has kept your family together? How many times have coworkers or bosses used your computer without stumbling upon your library of pornographic material?
All of this is God surrounding you with His protection. But if you persist in rejecting Him, He will withdraw His hand, and the very consequences you have been spared from—along with others you never imagined—may come upon you. You might perceive this as punishment, but in reality, God is innocent. His desire is to save you, not to harm you. However, if you remain stubborn, He may allow Satan greater access to your life, for that is Satan’s nature—to steal, kill, and destroy.
“You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV).
Through the troubles Satan brings your way, God hopes you will wake up and repent before it’s too late. Even if you have wasted your entire earthly life on sinful acts, salvation is still within reach. You can still be saved and secure eternal life.
Start with five minutes of prayer.
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