Sodom and Gomorrah and the Flood

[Aeden]

How do I explain these things to non-Christians? Or to be more exact, how do I explain them in the context of God’s mercy? The reasoning behind God’s right to do it is fairly straightforward, but the mercy part is one that I can’t seem to find a solid answer for.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

How do I explain these things to non-Christians? Or to be more exact, how do I explain them in the context of God’s mercy? The reasoning behind God’s right to do it is fairly straightforward, but the mercy part is one that I can’t seem to find a solid answer for.

.
You must try to explain the Trinity:
The Gd of the Old Testament, Gd, the Father, was a Gd of vengance who wreaked punishment on those who disobeyed him, starting with the banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
All of this ended when Gd the Father sent his Son, Jesus to redeem the sins of mankind by his Crucifixion and begin Gds New Covenant with man. Thus, Gd, the Son, is a Gd of Mercy.
The Holy Ghost was and is and will always be Gd of Inspiration and Revealation.
Together they form the Triune G*d of us all.

.

 

[deltapi]

I think it would be helpful if you focused your question more specifically.

God’s mercy is a sign of grace (God’s love poured out for humanity), and this mercy oftentimes manifests itself in the compassionate treatment of a wrongdoer. That doesn’t mean that punishments are not given, but take Cain for example.

Cain killed his brother Abel, but God did not kill Cain in response. Instead, God marked Cain and made him a ceaseless wanderer of the earth.

Concerning the flood, God was grieved by the wickedness of humanity and sought to start over. Ironically, God forms a covenant after the flood dries up and promises never to do something like that again (by means of a flood). Even the rainbow is set in the sky as a sign of God’s grace and mercy – and a reminder of the promise.

In the chapter preceding Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18), Abraham and God have an interesting exchange as Abraham pleads for God to spare innocent people. If you follow the formula of the dialogue, then it is fair to conclude that God would spare the WHOLE town for the sake of even one innocent person. That is mercy. Unfortunately, we know how that story ends … so no innocent people …

 

[CrimsonThorn]

Jesus had not come in those days, so there had not yet been atonement for sin.

 

[bzkoss236]

I usually use the example of, think of God the Father as your own father. When you do something wrong, at first he gets upset and punishes you. Then after a punishment is given, he reestablishes that he loves you and he just wants what is best for you and tries to steer you on the right path and giving you tips on how to avoid issues in the future. And after all that is said and done, he forgives you and sends you on your merry way as you tell him that you will try and behave in the future.

 

[stevekehl]

How do I explain these things to non-Christians? Or to be more exact, how do I explain them in the context of God’s mercy? The reasoning behind God’s right to do it is fairly straightforward, but the mercy part is one that I can’t seem to find a solid answer for.

First of all, God never changes. He is the same today as He was when He created the world. These events were examples of how God saves His faithful followers. The Scriptures repeatedly tell us that few will follow the way of God and record the repeated wickedness of Israel. But it also records reconciliation to God of those who are willing. The Psalms talk a lot about God’s mercy, patience, grace, love, and forgiveness. So the vengeful OT God of wrath and divine judgment was apparently demonstrating NT characteristics to David.