ONE of God’s prophets, given a vision of divine execution of judgment against corrupt, vicious oppressors and worshipers of idols, petitioned God: “During the agitation, to show mercy may you remember.” (Hab. 3:2)

Both of these prophets made these expressions because they knew Jehovah to be a God of love and mercy, just as God’s friend Abraham had earlier addressed Jehovah in speaking of the judgment about to come upon Sodom: “It is unthinkable of you that you are acting in this manner to put to death the righteous man with the wicked one so that it has to occur with the righteous man as it does with the wicked! It is unthinkable of you.” Yes, Abraham knew that to destroy the righteous was completely contrary to Jehovah’s principles.​—Gen. 18:25.

Abraham was given the answer, as was Ezekiel, that God would be selective in his judgment, and that those not deserving of destruction would be spared. Such proved to be the outcome.