The Hammer -- Not

This beautiful passage from Ezekiel came up in today's reading:

Cast away from you all the sins you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, for why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord Almighty. Therefore repent and live!

Ezekiel 18.31-32

You know, you see these cartoons of the gods sitting in the clouds, looking for somebody to zap. Or with a hammer, looking for somebody to pound for having fun (of some kind or another).

Could there be a more distorted view of God? He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies. Not of Hitler, Stalin, Dahmer, or (soon) Saddam.

Now that's merciful.