David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” –2 Samuel 24:14, NIV 2010
And then came the guilt, the pain, the torture, and the agony of doing something wrong. (Not that it was his first time, though: Remember Bathsheeba?) God forgave his sin, but his punishment was really interesting…
God raised up Gad, a prophet of His, to give David three choices:
- Three years of famine;
- Three months of running for his life (not that it was his first time);
- Three days of plagues running all across Israel.
- Rather than option #1 because he was not willing to be taken advantaged by some other petty pagan kingdom,
- and rather than option #2 because he was not willing to be taken advantaged by some other petty pagan kingdom.
And you’re alive, right? So God has been merciful to your life. Into His Hands you are, and He will not let you go.