(February 19, 2012 at 11:54 pm)Forsaken Wrote:(February 19, 2012 at 11:51 pm)Godschild Wrote: God kept His word about punishing the nation of Israel and the suffering it would cause them
So much for a kind, loving god.
So any parent that punishes their child is not loving or kind by your definition. God warned the Israelites for years and they would not repent, if He had not punished them they would have never believed Him. The same for a child, if a parent tells them they will punish him/her and then does not the child will believe they have the upper hand.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.