I think that the reversal of God’s goodwill toward Israel resulting in the destruction of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms is a pretty good example of God directly punishing a people for their sins.
See also… the Flood.
And for those of you who will say, "Well yes but that’s *OLD *Testament, I point you to Ananias and Saphira dying at the feet of St. Peter. Seemed like pretty swift and direct punishment to me.
Of course God punishes us, sometimes directly and sometimes by allowing us to fall on our faces because of our own sinfulness and stupidity, if He did not then texts like Hebrews 12: 5-11 “5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
The gist is if God does not punish you it is because you are not His, and if He is punishing you it’s because He’s training you in righteousness that you may be saved.
