Since God is our Creator, He has the right to expect us to obey Him. And throughout the Old Testament, He has shown His willingness and ability to punish those who failed to do this.
However, many people wrongly conclude from this that God is eager to punish those who fall short of His will. The concept in their minds is almost as if He is eagerly anticipating the chance to strike us down for our sin.
Yet notice the message God gave to Ezekiel to deliver to His people: “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11).
God warned them of punishment that was coming against them, yet He offered them a chance to avoid it. They could be delivered if they would turn from their sins and return to the Lord. He did not want them to face destruction; instead, He wanted them to be saved. Peter showed that the same is true today: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
So remember that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Instead, He has shown us what to do to avoid this fate. Let us turn from our sin and encourage others to do the same.