ps God can also cause respect by maintaining a distance from those who call on Him too late. why wait? it's just crazy to know there is help and to walk the other direction. but, that is why there is free choice. however, if you know that someone is strong and powerful - why reject them? jeremiah said, in jer. 20:11 - 'the Lord is with me like a dread champion.' That has to be one of my favorite verses because often people think that humans have the last say.
jer.23:29 'is not My word like a fire? declares the Lord, 'and like a hammer which shatters rock... therefore behold, I am against the prophets (pashur was a 'prophet'), declares the Lord, 'who steal My words from EACH OTHER. behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, 'The Lord declares....'
here God is literally saying - prophet, shmofet... - if a man is a prophet then He will speak only what God has given Him to say. No more. no less. And, those words will come true. Every word of God is given for reproof and instruction in righteousness. if you are in a religion that only speaks 'soft words' - what good is that when the world around us is crumbling? God uses a bullhorn and says it like it is. this world is about to end (the way it is now) because people have forgotten the law of God. Law is what a society is supposed to be based upon. if it protects the criminal instead of the victim - what good is that?