Isaiah 55: 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
These are just some of the reasons why in certain instances which might seem to be similar, there is what may seem to be an apparent mismatch in the way God responds. He looks at what is in the heart while we judge things from the mere externals. Again, David had a problem with the way God saw fit to address his sin of numbering the people, as an angel of God destroyed 70,000.
We must go back to the fact that God is a Spirit and as such He evaluates situations, and actions much differently than we do. Recently, a submersible sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and imploded, killing all five persons on board. They were on their way to see the Titanic which sank many years ago. Back then, in 1912, it was purported by some people that the Titanic was unsinkable, and some persons went so far as to say that “Not even God could sink it”
The owner and CEO of Ocean-gate was found to be partaking of the same spirit, or mindset, that was to be found in the heart of the captain of the titanic. A brief recount of their words and actions reveals that they were reading from the same script, and shared the same fate.
Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!