Throughout Scripture, various names of God are revealed. In Genesis 22:14, we see Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord our provider. In Exodus 17:15, we see Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner, or covering. In Judges 6:24, we see Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our peace. In Jeremiah 23:6, we see Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness. We like those names. But here we see He’s also Jehovah-Makkeh, the Lord who smites because God is not only our provider, He is also a smiter. And when we come to the Lord, we get the whole package. We can’t say, “I’ll take Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Shalom, but I’m not interested in Jehovah-Makkeh.” That’s not the way it works. When we say, “You are my God,” we get His person in totality.

God is indeed the God Who smites. But, instead of smiting you and me the way we deserve to be, He smote His own Son on a hill called Calvary.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10

Our glorious, awesome, powerful Father will not wink at sin. He is Jehovah-Makkeh. But He is also the One who loves you and me so intensely that He provided a way whereby we wouldn’t be smitten eternally. Jesus took our place. Therefore, if we walk away from the One who gave everything to die in our place, we deserve to be smitten eternally.