Topical Bible: Punishments: Sometimes Deferred Until God Was Consulted

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In the biblical narrative, there are instances where the execution of punishment was deferred until divine guidance was sought. This practice underscores the importance of seeking God's will and wisdom in matters of justice and discipline. The deferral of punishment until God was consulted reflects a deep reliance on divine authority and a recognition of God's ultimate sovereignty in determining justice.

One notable example is found in the account of Achan's sin in the Book of Joshua. After the Israelites suffered a defeat at Ai, Joshua sought the Lord's guidance to understand the cause of their failure. God revealed that Israel had sinned by taking some of the devoted things during the conquest of Jericho. Joshua 7:14-15 records God's instructions: "In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man. The one who is caught with the devoted things must be burned with fire, along with all that belongs to him, because he has violated the covenant of the LORD and has committed a disgraceful thing in Israel." Here, the punishment was deferred until God identified the guilty party, ensuring that justice was carried out according to His will.

Another instance is seen in the case of the Gibeonites during King David's reign. A famine struck Israel, and David sought the Lord to understand the cause. God revealed that it was due to Saul's breach of a covenant with the Gibeonites. In 2 Samuel 21:1-2 , it is written: "During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, 'It is because of Saul and his bloodstained house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.' So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them." The resolution of the famine required addressing the injustice done to the Gibeonites, and David deferred action until he received divine insight.

The principle of deferring punishment until God was consulted is also evident in the New Testament. In John 8:3-11, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, seeking His judgment. Instead of immediately condemning her, Jesus paused and wrote on the ground, then challenged those without sin to cast the first stone. His response demonstrated a reliance on divine wisdom and mercy, ultimately leading to the woman's release with a charge to "go and sin no more" (John 8:11).

These examples illustrate a consistent biblical theme: the deferral of punishment until God is consulted ensures that justice aligns with divine righteousness and mercy. This practice reflects a profound respect for God's authority and a commitment to His standards of justice.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 15:34
And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... The differences of gifts (23), of punishments (24), of ... withdrew only for a time,
and deferred rather than ... people gorged themselves with quails until the wrath ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm