WHY DOES GOD HATE SIN SO MUCH?

In my recent posts I’ve been exploring the theme of God and HATE based on Proverbs 6:16-19. Verse 16 states that God not only “hates” seven sins, but they are “detestable” to him. The word, detestable, in the Hebrew is Tow’ebah (to-ay-baw’) and it means: “a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable.” Throughout human history Satan has successfully carried on a campaign to promote sin in a very appealing and attractive way. When you think about it, Satan is really good on this point. Through his influence, and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, we completely ignore the pain and high price of sin, and only focus on the pleasure and satisfaction we get out of it. 

WHY DOES GOD HATE SIN SO MUCH? As the Creator of all things God has perfect knowledge of good and evil. We get confused when trying to decide whether something is good or evil. Check out these words from the prophet Isaiah: (5:20-25a New Living Translation) “Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. 21 Destruction is certain for those who think they are wise and consider themselves to be clever. 22 Destruction is certain for those who are heroes when it comes to drinking, who boast about all the liquor they can hold. 23 They take bribes to pervert justice. They let the wicked go free while punishing the innocent. 24 Therefore, they will all disappear like burning straw. Their roots will rot and their flowers wither, for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty. They have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 That is why the anger of the LORD burns against his people.” Did you see the confusion described verse 20: “…those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter”? 

 

Even though the Book of Isaiah was written approximately 2700 years ago, the prophet provides a clear description of the moral confusion which exists in the 21^st century. “Sin” is constantly being redefined, to the point people can rationalize and trivialize pretty much anything they desire to do.

I believe it can be said that God hates sin so much because he is HOLY. But that’s not the sole reason sin is so disgusting to him. God created us to love us and, as the crown of his creation, he deeply desires to show his love to us through giving us the very best of all he has made (1 Timothy 6:17). One of the first definition’s of sin I learned in Sunday school was “to miss God’s best.” Sin is associated with Old English archery, and it means “to miss the mark”. God, given his perfect knowledge, knows how destructive sin is in a person’s life. He’s observed millions of people, all thinking they know better than he does what is good, light and sweet, chose a path of destruction which leads to evil, dark and bitter. The ultimate in deception is to think we know better than God. 

The purpose of God’s laws and commandments is not to destroy all the fun and pleasure we may experience in life, it’s actually the opposite. God, through his unlimited wisdom, knows what is best and how we can achieve his best in our daily lives. Because of His endless love, he desires to protect us from destroying ourselves. Now when we choose sin and to live contrary to God’s laws and commandments, we have enough deception and deceit (Jeremiah 17:9) in our heart to actually think we’re headed towards what we desire in life. In reality, when we choose against God, we are choosing destruction. We may not believe the “wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) We may not believe “a man reaps what he sows”. (Galatians 6:7) We may not believe (Numbers 32:23) “(our) sin will find (us) out.” We may not believe, but that doesn’t change what is true. 

C.S. Lewis said, "The safest road to hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."  God hates sin because it is so destructive and it is so deceptive in the lives of his children, which he so deeply loves. He wants us to trust him, that he really does know what it best. He wants us to believe he always has our best in mind. 

Isaiah 48:17-18 NIV “This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. 18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.’”