Joshua Boyd

Series Context

• Part of A Walk Through the Bible
• Core truth: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever
• Not two different Gods (OT vs NT)
• Justice has always existed—Jesus changed how judgment is paid

Humanity Hasn’t Changed

• Sin existed before the Law (Cain & Abel)
• Pattern throughout history:
  • Sin → Judgment → Repentance → Rescue
• Seen clearly in Judges (repeated cycles)
• Ecclesiastes: “Nothing new under the sun”

Two Cycles

1. God’s Cycle (Life Cycle)

2. Sin

3. Judgment
4. Repentance

5. Rescue

6. Death Cycle

7. Sin → Judgment → Sin → Judgment (no repentance)

God’s Character in the Cycle

• Merciful
• Compassionate
• Slow to anger
• Gives repeated opportunities to repent

Delay of judgment ≠ lack of justice
It is mercy

Why Judgment Seems Delayed

• God desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2)
• If judgment were instant:
  • None of us would stand
• What we see as delay = God giving time to repent

Perspective Problem

• We often say:
  • “This is the worst it’s ever been”
• Reality:
  • Humanity has always had extreme evil
• God sees all of history:
  • Our “worst moment” = a tiny blip

Biblical Example: The Flood

• Humanity became:
  • “Consistently and totally evil”
• Judgment came—but only after time to repent
• One man (Noah) completed the cycle
  • Faith + obedience = rescue

One person’s obedience can impact generations

God’s Nature (Key Truth)

• God is:
  • Slow to anger
  • Full of unfailing love
  • Eager to forgive

He is not looking to punish—He’s looking to rescue

Jonah & Nineveh Lesson

• Jonah wanted judgment
• God showed mercy when people repented
• Jonah got angry

➡️ Lesson:

• We often want justice for others
• But mercy for ourselves

Why We Shouldn’t Judge

• We don’t see:
  • The full story
  • Private repentance

Eternal Perspective

• This world is temporary
• God’s Word is eternal (Matthew 24:35)
• Solomon’s mistake:
  • Focused on temporary things → found emptiness

➡️ True meaning = eternal focus

“Where Is God?” Question

• People have always asked this (2 Peter 3)
• Answer:
  • God is not slow
  • He is patient

“He does not want anyone to perish, but all to repent”

Time Perspective

Delay = opportunity

Final Encouragement

• Stay in the full cycle
  • When you sin → repent quickly
• Trust God:
  • Judgment is just
  • Mercy is available
  • Reward is coming