Num 14:18-19 (NKJV) The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation. Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. Matt 9:12-13 (NKJV) Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. James 2:13 (NKJV) For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. --- Trying to write about mercy is sort of trying to write about love. They are related and each has broad usage throughout Scripture. Mercy is used 282 times throughout the Bible, and that does not include similar words like merciful, so I could only select a few verses to show that mercy is important to God. He shows His mercy to us and He wants us to show mercy to our neighbors. The passage in Numbers is shown to point out how God was merciful to Israel. At the various times they didn’t always appreciate it. He was merciful by letting them go to Egypt and join Joseph and have provisions for the 7 year drought. Many of them would surely have died if God had not been merciful. Then after they were exploited in Egypt He was merciful again and forced Pharaoh to release them from slavery. He brought them back to the land flowing with milk and honey and they were a much larger nation by then. Throughout the history of Israel and Judah God would show His mercy and then remove it when Israel became disobedient. This became a cycle that ended with Israel dispersed among the nations and Judah in exile. He was merciful by telling Judah that He would send the messiah so they could have God with them in human form. When Christ started His ministry He had mercy on the poor, sick, needy, homeless and all other oppressions. He came to set people free from whatever was keeping them in captivity. Then He taught the people what God wanted them to do and about God’s love for His people. He even opened the door for the other nations to be part of God’s family. His disciples and Paul taught about God’s mercy and how it was a primary trait and was the mode of releasing the people from judgment. If we were to be judged on our own merit most of us could not stand up to God’s requirements so God extended His mercy through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross and subsequent resurrection. His mercy and love for His children overcomes judgment. He lets us choose our own way through His love for us just as a parent eventually lets go of their children and says I have raised you now go and live and make your own decisions. His mercy extends throughout life but if we fail to choose Him in this life then we are subject to judgment. He is fair by giving mercy to us up until our last breath hoping we will choose Him, but after that we will be judged and that is as fair as can be. Shalom, Mike
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 08:59:17 +0000