A good father is both a provider and protector of his children. Sometimes it is necessary that he become their corrector. Does that mean that a good father will chasten his children? God is the model father. He is definitely in the child rearing business and He chastens His children.
I know that, because as one of His children I have experienced His chastening. Furthermore, the Bible describes His chastening in no uncertain terms (Hebrews 12:5-12). We are instructed not to despise His correction, that it is for our good, and it is a sign we are His child. Those who can do their own thing, live a life of rebellion and appear to get away with it are not His children. Just like you will discipline your own children, but, you won’t discipline someone else’s child, so God does likewise.
When a child of God willfully disobeys his heavenly Father, God will begin rebuking him. He rebukes before He chastens. We could call this INTERNAL correction. He convicts by His word and by His Spirit. If we respond to His conviction He doesn’t have to go any further. But if we ignore Him and continue in our rebellion and selfish ways, He will chasten us EXTERNALLY. It will usually be something that hurts. He does it because He loves us enough to correct our errors and save us from some disasters.
Finally, if we are stubborn and refuse all correction, we will eventually stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ and see a lifetime of wood, hay, and stubble works burn, and suffer the loss of rewards we might have enjoyed forever.
It has then become ETERNAL. “Saved yet so as by fire.” Saved by the blood of Christ, yet the works of a lifetime lost. Yes, God is a Father. Yes, He will chasten and correct His children! And He is our example of a good Father.