God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
It’s not about our worthiness to receive these promises; it’s about the integrity to God to always keep His word. If God would fail to keep His promises, He would have more to lose than you.
It is self-evident that if punishment is not painful, it is not punishment. The only point of punishment is the administration of pain. The person who does sin…deserves to be punished; he deserves to suffer. One hopes that suffering will cure him of his sinfulness. At least, it will correct his behavior. He will be “scared straight” in behavior, if not softened in spirit.
