He disciplines to improve. No matter how severely He chastens, it is for our good, not harm. Divine chastening, even when it leads to acute suffering and loss, including death, is the pathway to life. For we read that God ‘kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up’ (1Sam.2:6). Even those banished from His presence, whether in this life or the next, can hope for restoration, for ‘He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him’ (2Sam.14:14).
God is infinitely good. As our heavenly Father, He possesses all the attributes of a good and loving human father, but to the extent and perfection only possible in a Divine Being. Consequently, He never behaves less justly, kindly or mercifully than we do.
Likewise, no good and compassionate father would ever forget, forsake or condemn his children (or for that matter anyone) to endless suffering, no matter what they had done, but, if necessary, would lay down his life to prevent it – which is exactly what Christ has done, in that He has ‘tasted death for everyone’, and promised to subdue and conform all things to Himself, that in the end God might be All in All.
All God’s dealings with us flow from His unchanging goodness and love. They are directed towards the glorious restoration of all things, when the whole creation will be brought into the fullness of His love and blessing in Christ.