[4MKfam]

does He ever get angry toward his children in a vengeful way? Just thinkin'. Because I struggle with two big things. Big things. Loving my children and not using punishment in a vengeful manner. I know God gets angry in Scripture. I'm thinking of the striking down of Ananias and Sapphira when they deceived the church (and God), and the many times in the OT when God defended His people by destroying their enemies. I'm thinking of the time Jesus threw over the tables in the temple. One thing is becoming clear to me, though, and I'd like your thoughts, and correction if I'm wrong. It seems to me that God's anger or frustration with His people was always acted out in ways that would win their love, not motivate them by fear. The times I see God acting in vengeance or inspiring fear were toward His enemies . The only exception I can come up with now is God showing His power to Job ...and to Elijah. I don't know. Help me out here . I am just really having a hard time accepting God not being punitive toward his own people when they were disobedient. ...Okay, so what about Jonah? Yes, God's actions ended up reconciling Jonah, but how else would you categorize what happened to Jonah if it wasn't God's punishment for disobedience?