[48]A kind and loving parent sometimes inflicts punishment upon a child
because the child has violated a rule. The parent punishes the child not
because he loves to see the child suffer, but for the good of the child,
in order that it might be disciplined and might learn the proper
lessons. If the child always did good and never did evil it would not
merit nor receive any punishment from a loving parent. One of the chief
purposes of Jehovah in dealing with mankind in the manner he does deal
with them is that humankind might be disciplined and learn the lessons
of good and the effect of doing wrong, and thus learn to appreciate the
love of the heavenly Father.
[49]When God sentenced our first parents to death and drove them out of
Eden, he had in mind and had already planned for their future blessing,
as we will see upon a further examination of his plan. Hence it was love
that prompted his action in sentencing Adam to die. Every act of Jehovah
is prompted by love; for God is love. He always acts that good may
result. The manifestation of his strict justice was essential that the
dignity and greatness of Jehovah might be maintained. At the same time,
in so doing, love was the motive that prompted his action. It must have
brought sorrow to the heart of Jehovah to be compelled thus to punish
his creatures, because God takes no pleasure in evil things; yet having
in mind the ultimate blessing and restoration of them, there would be
pleasure in thus manifesting justice that ultimate good might result.
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