And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the LORD has brought all this disaster on them.’” – 1 Kings 9:8-9

Most of the time when we hear the question “Why did God do that?” it is in conjunction with something bad that has happened that seems out of God’s character. Like when a young family member dies or when a hurricane or earthquake strike an impoverished area, or when war breaks out between rival nations. People usually wonder how a “loving God” could allow such devastation.

It seems like such a harsh answer to say that God allowed it to happen because of a bigger plan we can’t understand or, as the passage directs, the character of those on the other end of devastation were not members in God’s personal choir. But isn’t possible the truth is exactly that? Story after story in the Old Testament received God’s warning of wrath and many cities ended up bearing the consequence of never heading that warning.

Of course, I can’t sit here and assume to know why God does the things that He does or even pretend to understand why some people seem to receive harsher consequences over others. All I know is His word does not change and neither does His character. So if it pleased Him to warn a king thousands of years ago, this pauper is going to head the same warning today and give Him His worship due.