God is not sadistic and he is not vengeful.  When he created the Garden of Eden and we (just two of us) could not follow the rules, in their most simplistic form, I think he got a good idea that we would have to be shown that sin is not the way to salvation.  He gave us many chances to get the message, but we went around having wars, and taking things that belonged to other people and lying; and did all those things that we were asked not to do.   I am only guessing, but it would seem to me that God said, Guess what, I had better send my only son to show them the way.   In order to get our full attention, Jesus had to suffer and die very slowly.  He was such a good man, and kind, and he lived the life that we often just talk about, and did it with humility and grace.  He died as he lived, and asked forgiveness for those who were his executioners.  Then he was laid to rest, and rose to be with his father. Perhaps it is God’s greatest gift to us, that Jesus came, and was known to some of us, and will come again to get us, when we need him most.   What is it in this life lesson that you find to be sadistic?  Only man behaved badly, not God, not Jesus, and this was done by men of free will, not by God’s command.