God has portrayed Himself as a nomad sheikh, who exercises sovereignty in the sense of our accountability to Him. He gave the Egyptians choices; the chose to stand under His wrath. He also gives people choices to build in Tornado Alley. The world is fallen and there is no good place to live. Every place will have its own peculiar sorrow. The tornadoes have to be seen in the larger context, not as isolated incidents. God set the stage; we can act but we can’t change the scenery.

Yes, mercy can mitigate the effects of the Fall. God’s Law Covenants indicate ways to claim His mercy, but never promises anything concrete and precise. I live where I do because that is God’s leading in my spirit. We got hail damage and not a tornado; that was mercy. Had He done otherwise, it is my duty to endure. His Word amply warns this life is not going to be anything less than painful and sorrowful with a few bright moments. This life isn’t that important in the first place.

My spirit witnesses our measure of mercy arises from embracing His Laws, not in precision of words, but in the fuzzy Hebrew mystical logic you consistently reject. You could learn it; there is a vast trove of literature on it. I’ve read some of it, but mostly I’m chasing down whatever it takes to have peace with God. I have that.

And I never really thought to “blame God for slaughtering the Egyptian children during the Passover”, but now that you mentioned it… God did, in fact, DO that–didn’t He? I mean, He didn’t HAVE to do it, right? Or are you saying that the Creator of the universe MUST do things? If so, who forces His hand?

You say it “wasn’t necessary”. So then why did it happen? Because the Egyptians caused it… God therefore is not sovereign; people make Him do things he doesn’t want to do.

Either that or nothing you said makes any sense.

Weather’s been manic here, too, though I think we might be hitting the warm season for real this week.

Frankly, I’d call it a plus unless it drives a target nuts or the target doesn’t learn to manage anger.