These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16–19
Some may be appalled at the recorded outbursts of God’s wrath. Some folks just can’t believe that God would wipe out entire cities with fire and brimstone because they were steeped in homosexuality. They wonder how a loving God could order an Israelite king to obliterate an entire nation or command the death penalty for adultery or rebellion against one’s parents. When God strikes men and women for touching or gazing into the holy ark or for lying about a generous contribution, or when He inflicts people with leprosy or blindness, is God betraying a vile temper which He is powerless to control? Does God have deep-seeded hatred against man? John says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), but how can a loving God hate so much? Let’s consider some of the things that God hates.
God hates pride. Pride has led to the fall of many mighty men. Uzziah was one of the greatest kings of Judah, but “when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he trans-gressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16). When God suffered Hezekiah to recover from a terminal illness, the king “did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up” (2 Chronicles 32:25), and he invited the Babylonians in to see his wealth. It was pride that drove the seemingly invincible Nebuchadnezzar to the fields to graze like a wild beast. And what led to Eve’s fall in the garden? Was it not pride, the desire to be like God (Genesis 3:5–6)? Why does God hate pride so much? Because pride leads to falling as a natural consequence and because he loves man and doesn’t want any to fall (2 Peter 2:9).
God hates lying and deceit. God made it clear that He would not tolerate deception in Israel. He ordered them not to bear false witness against one another (Exodus 20:16). He insisted on the use of consistent and just weights and measures in Israel’s trade (Deuteronomy 25:13–16). God hates deception because deception costs lives, and it costs souls. It cost Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3). It cost Judah (Jeremiah 29:8). Paul says those who do not “receive the love of the truth that they might be saved” will be per-mitted to “believe the lie that they all may be condemned who did not believe” (2 Thessalonians 2:10–12). God hates deceit, because death and perdition are its natural consequences (Romans 7:11).
God hates division and divisiveness. Whenever we find division, we always find sin at the root. When mankind was divided at Babel, it was because of sin (Genesis 11). When the church in Corinth was divided, Paul recognized that there must be sin at the root (1 Corinthians 1:10–13). God has told us “that he hates divorce” (Malachi 2:16), and Christ said it is only permissible when adultery has occurred (Matthew 19:9). Doesn’t God want us to be happy? Of course He does! That is why He wants us to be united and to live out our commitments. God hates divorce because no good ever comes from it. Some seem to think that God loves division, but this couldn’t be more untrue.
Though there are many things that God hates, we must not draw the conclusion that He is a hateful God, for He hates these things only because they are harmful to us, the objects of His great love.