First Things First

For the most part, people assume that since they are alive, they deserve to be alive. (Many assume that they deserve a lot of other good things.) However, that is backward thinking. It begins with man and his aliveness as a starting point. The signers of the U. S. Declaration of Independence held that life was a self-evident unalienable right. Yet, they asserted that such a right was endowed by the Creator.

Whenever man and his aliveness serve as the backdrop to interpret one’s existence, and life, God and the wrath of God are sure to be misunderstood. On the other hand, when a person begins with God, life and God’s wrath come into focus. So, every person chooses to interpret his/her world based on the answer to the question: Which came first: God or man?

For those whose answer is man, then it must be acknowledged that the idea of God came from the mind of man. Taking this idea to its natural conclusion, God, Scripture and religion are all products of human imagination.

Many people accept this view as true. In many cases, they are driven to this conclusion because of the presence of evil in the world. They wonder, “How could a good God create a world in which there is evil and suffering?” Not finding a suitable answer, they dismiss God.

For those who answer that God existed before man, things look very different. First, the Bible stands as the revelation of God providing understanding to mankind. That is God’s claim.

God is presented as a being that existed before the universe and all things in it. He is the one who conceived of man and the universe in which man lives. He commanded all things into existence by His authority. By God’s own evaluation, all that He created was good.

However, man tainted God’s glorious creation when he rebelled. When man sinned, you might say that, from man’s perspective, God was presented a dilemma. Should He destroy something that was created as good, yet that had engaged in evil? Or should God show mercy toward these beings that were created in His image?

In reality, there was no dilemma. God acted according to His divine nature: love. He took His time in becoming angry: patience.

Then the Lord passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

--Exodus 34:6

And yet, while God was patient and merciful, He did not sweep the dirt of sin under the rug. Without ignoring or tolerating sin, He demanded that there be payment for sin. That reveals another attribute of God’s divine nature: justice.

The Apostle Paul described God as being just but also the one who is the justifier (Romans 3:26). In other words, God deals fairly with man when He holds us accountable for sin. (That's justice.) Yet at the same time, He is the one who justifies people, that is, makes things right.

How is God the Justifier? He brought justice by providing the sacrifice that would be satisfactory for all sin for all people: Jesus.

Jesus was better than any other sacrifice...

• Because He was God’s own Son;
• Because He was a willing sacrifice;
• Because He had never sinned.

So, in reality, no one who has sinned possesses the right to live. All sinners deserve death! Yet, God values life. With patience He extends mercy and has provided the way to eternal life.

So, the only question is which makes more sense: man before God?? Or, God before man??

The Apostle Paul wrote that the existence of God is self-evident.

For since the creation of the world His (God's) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (unbelievers) are without excuse.

--Romans 1:20

 

Just look outside; you can’t miss it!

Mark Stinnett

January 1, 2023

(Photo by Mark Stinnett)

Is Doing God's Will the Same as Obeying God's Law?

The author of the book of Hebrews writes of Jesus, “I have come to do Your will” (10:9). Is that the same as obeying God’s law?

The two may seem to be equivalent, but there is a difference. The difference between the two marks the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant and largely defines how we look at Scripture.

It is true that breaking the law of God is sin (James 2:10). However, the Scripture also says that law is not for a righteous person (1 Timothy 1:9).

Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Did that mean that He simply did not break any rules? Did God send His Son so that we would stop breaking rules?

To do the will of God is more than obeying the legal aspects of God’s word. Jesus was not merely flawless according to the Law of Moses. He was more. That was actually the point that the writer of Hebrews was making when he said of Jesus: “I have come to do Your will.”

That statement about Jesus was set in contrast to the first covenant in which sacrifices were offered “continually year by year” (10:3). Jesus introduced a better covenant through a better sacrifice. He presented Himself as a sacrifice that was acceptable to God for all sin for all people for all time (10:12).

But what was the new covenant? A new set of rules?

Jesus said of Himself that He had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17-20). He went on to say that one’s righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees.

In their day, the Pharisees were known as elite law-keepers. They were very strict when it came to the Law of Moses. In fact, in order to keep from breaking the Law of Moses, they created rules that were even stricter. The idea seemed to be that if they stepped over the line and broke their strict laws, they would still be a step away from breaking God’s law.

So, did Jesus mean that His disciples were supposed to be stricter than the Pharisees???

Jesus later taught that the two great commands (to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself) summed up all the Law and Prophets. Notice that these two commands are rooted in relationship. They are dependent upon one’s attitude and actions toward God and others. Obedience to these commands is far more than a strict adherence to a legal code. They are more descriptive of God’s will than the rule of law.

As long as we look at the Scriptures as a law code, we will see rules in the form of dos and don’ts. That will only produce a Pharisaical attitude toward the Scriptures. We will argue religious questions, boast in our knowledge and conclusions, and ultimately divide.

The Law of Moses gave the Israelites (and us) insight into the character of God: His holiness, His righteousness, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness and His love. Nothing in the Law was arbitrary. It all pointed to something about God.

His desire was to produce in His chosen people an attitude of love and justice and holiness. He was trying to teach His people to be holy as He is holy and to love as He loves.

The problem was that Israel could not become what God desired through strict obedience to the Law of Moses. Strict law-keeping never made anyone like God, even if the law was divinely given. God sent Jesus to fulfill the Law, that is, to bring the Law to its natural state of completion. He came to do God’s will, not just obey rules. He demonstrated the very essence of God.

The obedience of Jesus is not about legal obedience but about doing God’s will. It is about sacrificial love. It is about sacrificial holiness. Sacrifice is about me giving up myself. I give up my things to help others; I give up my rights to preserve relationships; I give up my desires to please God. I consciously fight temptation to remain holy before God.

Jesus laid down His life for us and said:

No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.

—John 10:18

Being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

—Philippians 2:8

Are you trying to do God’s will or just obey laws??

Mark Stinnett

June 6, 2021

Just Because...

"Just Because…"

You have heard the expression; you may have used it. 

A parent answers, “No,” and the child asks, “Why not?” 

The response: “Just because….”

Perhaps there is not enough time to explain. Perhaps the little one cannot understand. Often times, however, there is nothing to explain; that’s just the way it is!

-----------------

In recent months I have noticed many, many comments in social media that end with “God is good.” The final comment always seems to follow good news, an unexpected blessing, or an expression of joy.

   “I have a new job!”… God is good.

   “Our daughter had a baby; we’re grandparents!” … God is good.

   “Our son graduated.” … God is good.

   “Dad is back home from the hospital.” … God is good.

   “The tests for cancer came back ‘negative.’” … God is good.

   “The long awaited spring is finally emerging.” … God is good.

   “The beauty of God’s creation is inspiring.” … God is good.

I really am glad to read all these expressions, but I wonder if we have slipped into a “God is good…because of…” kind of thinking. Is our perception of God’s goodness based only on favorable outcomes in life?

   “Up on the wrong side of the bed; bad day…but God is still good.”

   “The rain destroyed my crops…but God is still good.”

   "I 'totaled' my car...but God is still good."

   “Recent changes in the stock market hurt my retirement…but God is still good.”

   “The earthquake leveled the town; killed many…but God is still good.”
   “Mom’s best friend died last night…but God is still good.”
   “The cancer is back…but God is still good.”

There was a time when King David's life was in danger because of his strained relationship with his son Absolom. Was God good? How do you think King David spent his nights knowing that his son had literally risen up against him in pursuit of the throne of Israel?

   (A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.) 

   O LORD, how my foes increase! 

      There are many who attack me. 

   Many say about me, 

      "There is no help for him in God." 
   Selah. 

   But You, LORD, are a shield around me, 

      my glory, and the One who lifts my head. 

   I cry aloud to the LORD, 

      And He answered me from His holy mountain. 
   Selah. 

   I lie down and sleep; 

      I wake again because the LORD sustains me. 

   I am not afraid of the thousands of people 

      who have taken their stand against me on every side. 

   Riseup, LORD! Save me, my God! 

      You strike all my enemies on the cheek; 

      You break the teeth of the wicked. 

   Salvation belongs to the LORD; 

      May Your blessing be on your people! 
   Selah.

                                                  --Psalm 3 (CSB, emphasis added)

David knew, 'God is good' in times of wealth and peace and safety…and also in times of need, in times of trial, in times of danger.

God IS good…at all times...
Just Because….

"I AM": His Glory, Our Quest

Look out your window; what do you see?

It is not about making a list. Rather, when you see God’s creation outside your window, what do you learn...about God?

The Apostle Paul said that mankind can learn some things about God just by observing creation.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…. —Romans 1:20

Just by observing the world around us a person can learn that: 

• God exists;
• God is powerful;
• God is eternal and divine. 

When you think about it, humans have used their powers of observation to learn about animals for centuries. By looking at a beaver’s dam, we can learn some things about beavers. The same could be said about birds and their nests, ants and their ant hills and even the 'animal' called man and the things he builds.

However, the simple observation of things that have been made can only go so far. Some things remain unknown unless revealed. By observing a building a person would have no knowledge of the architect’s name, family relationships, influence in the community, religious values, etc. And let’s not be silly thinking that an architect’s style is recognizable. That is true only if the architect is already known for his/her other work. (The work of an unknown artist or sculptor reveals only so much about its maker.)

The simple point is that God has revealed something about Himself through His creation. Yet, He has revealed something more about Himself through verbal revelation. He used words to identify Himself by name and by character.

The occasion was shortly after Israel had been delivered from Egyptian slavery. God had instructed Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land assuring him that an angel would accompany them. Moses pleaded with God to go with them Himself, and God agreed to do so. Then, almost as a child making an impossible request of a parent, Moses blurted out:

I pray You, show me Your glory!

Since God would not allow Moses to see his face, he told him to stand in an indentation in a large rock. He would then pass in front of Moses and declare His name.

For centuries to come psalmists, prophets and those of faith would repeat the things God revealed to Moses about Himself that day. One of the greatest revelations in all of Scripture…

Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. —Exodus 34:6-8

Justice is a part of God’s character because He is pure and holy. Yet, He is never without love. Love is also a part of God's character, yet He is never without justice and purity and holiness. God is love and God is holy at all times. He does not ‘try’ to love or 'try' to be holy; these are His nature. Not one of the characteristics that God revealed competes with another as if God struggles against justice to show compassion; or that God struggles against forgiveness to be holy. He is at all times both loving and just; the God of love and the God who is holy.

Love and Holiness: His glory; our quest.

Like Moses, we would do well to bow low to the ground and worship...

"I AM": Just

Life’s unfair…

Kids come home from school and talk about their day:
     “The teacher said...and that’s not fair.”
     “My friend…and that’s not fair.”
     “It rained again; it’s just not fair.”

After supper mom and dad discuss their day:
     “The boss told us...and that’s not fair.”
     “I can’t believe what happened to…; that’s just not fair.
     “Did you hear what’s happening overseas? That’s really unfair.”

I’m not saying that people complain all the time (though some do). Rather, I think we spend a lot of time thinking about and talking about and wringing our hands about the many inequities of life, that is, the stuff that’s not fair.

The Psalmist often cried out to God because of the inequities of life. Yet, he concluded that God was his strength. He said that he “will wait upon the Lord.”

What does that mean, to wait upon the Lord?

In short, it means that a person is willing to endure the inequities of life and allow God to straighten everything out later. To wait upon the Lord means that, while the inequities in life are real, I will trust that God is also aware. I will be content to allow God to take action in His time as He sees fit.

So, is that really fair? Is God being fair?

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.   —Romans 12:19

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.    —Romans 12:21

The simple idea is that God understands that life is not fair and He promises to deal with the inequities of life. We just need to be patient… because...

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.    —2 Peter 3:9

From the opening pages of the Bible mankind has opposed God by declaring his selfish independence. The flood at the time of Noah dramatically shows what man deserves because of his arrogance: death. So, the question we should be asking is, “Why has God allowed us to live!?” The passage above answers.

The justice of God demands payment for sin; the justice of God demands death. Yet the love of God demands forgiveness, fellowship...life.

God will allow the guilty to live, but only if someone dies in their place, but who? Each person must bear his/her own guilt for sin. So, who is there to take my place, to take your place? The answer: Only someone who is sinless; someone who has no sin debt.

The prophet Isaiah wrote of the future Christ saying that God would be satisfied with his sacrifice. He went on to say that “He will bear their iniquity.” (53:11) Jesus, the Christ, was the satisfactory sacrifice for you and me because he was sinless. That’s not fair that he took my place and your place, but it is just! It satisfied the debt requirement for sin.

Is life fair??? No; you are still alive. 

Is life full of inequities??? Yes, but God is patient...are you?

It is as if God said to Moses, “I AM who I am...I am just.” And he did…

The LORD God...who will by no means leave the guilty unpunished….    —Exodus 34:7

"I AM": Forgiver

How big is your God?
How big is your sin?

Is your God bigger than your sin...or the other way around?

Is there something in your past, something that you can't seem to shake? Is there something you have done wrong and the memory comes back to haunt you from time to time?

Perhaps you hurt someone in such a way that you cannot forgive yourself. Whenever you think of that person, you remember what you did and the guilt feelings rush back.

Perhaps it is something you did that someone witnessed (or you think they witnessed). When you are around that person, the memory returns. You wonder what they think of you, but you are afraid to bring it up in conversation. You know what you think of yourself. The guilt hangs over you.

Do you have some sort of sin that will just not go away? (Some call it a vice or an addiction.) It is your weakness and you know it. You wish you could shake it, but you cannot. Stubborn 'will power' is not enough. You fall once again and guilt washes in all over again...and then again...and again.

Have you ever gotten angry with God? Not everyone has, but some people shout back at God when things go badly. Some even refuse God or rebel against him. Have you? Have you ever shaken your fist at God and in your heart walked away for a time? Coming back to God is hard, so very hard. You think, "How can He accept me back?" 

Can He; will He?

Did you know that forgiveness is part of the character of God? It is His nature to forgive, and what will he forgive?

Speaking about Himself, God said that He forgives: sin, iniquity, and transgression. These are three different words in the Hebrew Old Testament, each describing a different way in which a person can sin.

Their precise meanings might be illustrated by imagining a person who is walking along the right moral path toward good.

• Sin misses the goal, perhaps by wandering aimlessly, perhaps by distraction. To 'sin' is to fail or come short of the goal. God forgives sin.
• Iniquity distorts the path by bending or twisting the right path and ultimately not achieving the goal. 'Iniquity' includes different ways in which a person rationalizes wrong or renames wrong as if it is right. God forgives iniquity.
• Transgression is an abrupt breaking off of the path. It comes with the conscious intent to leave the path; rebellion. God forgives transgression.

You see, God forgives all kinds of sin regardless of the way in which a person sins. So, there is NO WAY OUT...You cannot possibly think that God cannot forgive your sins. As a result, there is true hope for everybody!

Now, someone reading this is dying to interject: "Don't forget to tell folks that they must repent!"

That is correct, but just calm down; this is not about US. This is about God and His forgiveness. It is about Him and His divine character.

Here's the point. God does not have to 'try' to forgive. Forgiveness is not 'second' nature. He does not have to wrestle with the reality of your sin and how repulsive it is and then make himself forgive by force of will. God forgives because it is his nature to forgive. It is just the way He is.

It is as if God said to Moses, "I AM who I am...I AM a forgiver."

He did.

The Lord God...who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin....--Exodus 34:7

Our God...greater than our sin!!!

"I AM": Slow to Anger

Eyes squint. Jaws clench. Fists tighten. Nostrils flare upon inhale.

You've seen it...ANGER!
(Expect fire upon exhale.)

If you have ever made someone angry, very angry, and that was not your intention, what a relief it was when they slowly exhaled and began to relax their fists...jaw...eyes: Self-control.

Better yet is the person who demonstrates self-control before the anger begins. They do not flare up quickly. They do not have to cool down; they never heat up in anger! The circumstances could have made the person angry, but the anger was controlled at the very beginning. Slow to anger.

Imagine yourself among a small group of friends. Everyone is asked to list a few words or phrases related to 'love.' Surely someone writes compassion; also grace and kindness. Would anyone write down, 'slow to anger'?

When God passed in front of Moses and verbally identified himself, the first few attributes expressed different facets of God's love.

The LORD, the LORD God,compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

--Exodus 34:6

• Compassion is an expression of God's love as He withholds anger and rejection that are truly justified.
• Grace is an expression of God's love as He generously gives when it is completely undeserved.
• Lovingkindness is an expression of God's love as He makes promises simply because he loves, and with that same love is loyal in keeping His promises.

        [Read more on these expressions of love...Compassion, Grace, Lovingkindness]

Right in middle of these love expressions is the attribute, 'slow to anger.' I cannot help but think that slow to anger is yet another expression of God's love.

Worded slightly differently, the expression slow to anger describes God as one who takes a long time in becoming angry; an anger procrastinator. It reminds me a number of older people I have known; people who have experienced life and understand human nature. They know something about human weakness; they understand the human dilemma. They recognize the brevity of life and know the things in life that are of value, true value. They know the futility of anger and its destructive end.

They are not unconcerned or uncaring, they simply know how to live without acting impulsively or overreacting to life's circumstances.

Isn't that a loving characteristic? Isn't it an act of love when a person does not become angry quickly? Isn't it a sign of love when a person does not lose his or her temper? We might not always 'see' the absence of impulsive anger, and as a result might not recognize the love that is there. However, it is an expression of love and it is an attribute of God.

God does not 'try' to take a long time in becoming angry. It is not his 'second' nature. It is not by force of will or internal fortitude that God wrestles with himself and overcomes the impulsive flare-up of anger. It is by nature that God takes a long time in becoming angry. It is just the way he is.

It is as if God had said to Moses, "I AM who I am . . . I AM slow in becoming angry."

Oh wait...He did!

     The LORD God...slow to anger....
     --Exodus 34:6

"I AM": Lovingkindness

     Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness....
     --Psalm 51:1

What is lovingkindness?
It sounds sweet, but what does it really mean?

You can separate the compound word into two words, loving + kindness, and get an idea. However, the full meaning is masked by translation and ancient usage. The English language really does not have a good word to translate the full meaning of the simple Hebrew term: chesed. (Sounds like KEH-sed.)

Different translations of the Bible use terms such as kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love, enduring love, and others to express the meaning of chesed.

Many writers have described chesed as 'covenant love.' It is true that chesed often appears in the context of a covenant. However, one Hebrew scholar has accurately observed that chesed is not tied to the covenant, rather, the covenant is tied to chesed.

The picture painted by the term chesed is that of a deep love that would motivate someone to make a covenant promise to another. Once the promise is made, the covenant promise acts as a reminder of the original love. More specifically, God's lovingkindness [chesed] moved him to make a covenant promise with man, and it also described his loyalty to that covenant promise. He will never forget a covenant promise that He has made. He will not leave it unfulfilled.

After King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed to cover up his sin, he was confronted by the prophet Nathan. David confessed his sin and prayed to God for forgiveness by appealing to God's lovingkindness. [Read this in Psalm 51.]

David understood that there was no sacrifice that he could offer to take his sin away. According to the justice of the Law of Moses, there was no forgiveness. So, he appealed to God's chesed. He was not trying to back God into a corner as if to force God's loyalty to His covenant promise. Rather, David was crying out in desperation for God to love him with the same love that moved Him to make the covenant promise in the first place.

David appealed to the very nature of God. He recognized the enduring love of God that had moved Him to make promises to his forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to the nation Israel. David appealed to the divine kindness of God that would motivate him to initiate a covenant promise. David's appeal was that God would continue his steadfast love toward him because He had already loved him.

     Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness [chesed]....
     --Psalm 51:1

God does not try to love [chesed]. It is not his 'second' nature. He does not analyze and synthesize a situation, wrestle with his will, and then finally decide to love. It is his nature, his identity. It is just who he is.

It is as if God had said to Moses, "I AM who I am...I am chesed."

Oh, wait...He did!

     The LORD God...abounding in lovingkindness [chesed]....
     --Exodus 24:6

"I AM": Grace

Have you ever had an occasion in which you were so happy that you wanted to celebrate? You received a promotion or a bonus at work, or a new child was born into the family, or very difficult circumstances were resolved. You wanted to celebrate and share your happiness with friends. So...YOU threw the party. YOU bought the meals. YOU provided for friends and family because you had received a special gift.

That kind of giving is an illustration of grace, and few shine brighter than King David of ancient Israel.

King David desired to build a more permanent temple for God that would replace the portable tabernacle that had been made at the time of Moses. The prophet Nathan gave him the 'go ahead' to proceed with his plans. However, at God's instruction Nathan quickly returned to tell David that as a warrior he had too much blood on his hands. He would not build a temple for God, instead, the temple would be built by his son Solomon.

Nathan continued with God's message to David, a prophecy and a promise:

     Your house and your kingdom
        shall endure before Me forever; 
     Your throne shall be established forever.
     --2 Samuel 7:16

Though David may have felt a little sad over not being the builder of God's temple, he understood the magnitude of the promise. In response to God's gracious promise, David searched for someone on whom he could show grace. He found Mephibosheth, the crippled son of his dear deceased friend Jonathan.

David brought Mephibosheth to his palace in Jerusalem, restored his family's land to him, and invited him eat daily at the king's table. Mephibosheth recognized his inability to offer anything in return and referred to himself descriptively as a 'dead dog.' Yet David was delighted to offer his gift of kindness. (Read about Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9.)

In a figurative way every Christian is a Mephibosheth before the King of heaven. In reality, as sinful creatures we are nothing but 'dead dogs' before God, useless and undeserving.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

--Ephesians 2:4-8

God does not try to be gracious. It is not 'second' nature to him. It is not a battle of the inner will in which grace wins out over something else. God is, in himself, by nature, full of grace. It is as if God could have said to Moses, "I AM who I am, I am grace."

Oh, wait . . . He did.

     The LORD God . . . gracious....
     --Exodus 34:6

"I AM": Compassion

Childbirth...
The ears of the nurses ringing from the screaming voice of the 'lady in labor'...
     "Just get that thing out of me!!!"
Then, moments later the world is at peace with the mother's gentle coos...
     "She's so precious...the most beautiful baby in the world."
It can be somewhat amusing.

For the rest of her life a mother will experience pains of a different kind, pains emerging from deep within. I suppose most people have some understanding, but no one understands like a mother. It is the pain felt when one of her little ones scrapes a knee or cuts a finger. It is not mere emotion tugging at the heart, but rather, a true inner pain that hurts along with the child's pain. Dad's can feel the same kind of pain, just not, I think, quite like a mother.

That deep-seated inner feeling that aches when your own little one is hurt is something we call compassion.

Of all the words God used to describe himself, the word compassion, or mercy, is more descriptive of his emotional involvement with humanity than any other word. With that in mind, consider a wonderful description of God's compassion toward his child, Israel, from Psalm 78. First, a little background....

God delivered the nation of Israel from Egyptian slavery through a dramatic display of miracles which ended with Israel crossing of the Red Sea on dry land. However, after only a few days, the singing and dancing of a freed nation turned into complaining.
     The people were thirsty;
     The people were hungry. 

God was angry with the people for their lack of faith. Having seen His mighty hand of deliverance they should have realized that He would also be their provider. Yet, they doubted. Their complaining continued and they ultimately sank into idolatry. Over and over the people failed so that the description was written:

     Their hearts were not loyal to him.
     They did not keep his covenant.
     --Psalm 78:37 (NLT)

Yet, in spite of their weak faith, God responded with compassion:

     Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins
        and did not destroy them all.
     Many times he held back his anger
        and did not unleash his fury!
     For he remembered that they were merely mortal,
        gone like a breath of wind that never returns.
     --Psalm 78:38-39 (NLT)

God's was compassionate when faithless Israel deserved anger and wrath. God would have been justified in destroying them for their complaining and idolatry. There was nothing they could do to redeem themselves; nothing that they could offer to make amends. There was no 'undo.' Their only chance for survival was a deep 'motherly' love that would move God to act with kindness instead of justice. They needed compassion.


And God responded with compassion. It is tempting to say that He responded 'in spite of' their weakness, but in reality it was 'because of their weakness.' So it is with us today.

A mother's compassion is merely an illustration of God's compassion. It is God who gives meaning to compassion.

God is compassionate as a part of his divine nature. He does not try to show compassion. It is not 'second' nature. He does not wrestle in his inner will until compassion wins out over something else.  God is, in Himself, by nature, full of compassion. It is just who He is.

God extends compassion when it is not deserved, when justice calls for rejection, judgment, or even death. God could have said to Moses, "I AM who I am; I am compassion."

Oh wait . . . He did!

     The LORD God, compassionate....
     --Exodus 34:6

"I AM": God's Divine Character

Do you remember signing yearbooks in high school? Do you remember the sentiment written almost as often as “Congrats” and “Good luck”?

“Stay the way your are.”

That was a friend’s way of saying that you were so cool, you just couldn’t get any better. You were fully accepted; complete; virtually perfect.

It was nice sentiment...but not long after graduation, we all discovered it to be quite unrealistic.

For one thing, kids are incomplete, imperfect. That’s why they are called kids and not adults. They don’t get out of high school or college and start at the top. There is an expectation of maturity from a state of immaturity.

Not only that, we cannot avoid change. We are human. We simply do not remain the same physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, etc. It is a part of our human nature...change.

Did you know that God is changeless?

I can understand the word, but I cannot seem to wrap my mind around the idea. The very nature of God is different from our human nature. Don’t think of that as a fact...think about what it means. 

Stop. Think.

You may remember how Moses had been chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. During his preparatoin he said to God:

“Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

—Exodus 3:13-14

“I Am” doesn’t seem to be much of a name. Yet that is what God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.”

How do you think that struck their minds? How was that different from the gods of Egypt? Was it just clever word play?

The name ‘I AM’ sets God apart from humanity and distinguishes Him uniquely.

‘I AM’ means the same as ‘I exist.’ That separates God from all of creation which had a beginning. ‘I exist’ separates God from the restriction and passage of time and places Him in ageless eternity.

‘I AM’ suggests that God is not strictly associated with any one aspect of creation. He is God of the sun, but he is not confined as if he is only a 'sun-God.' He is God over all with no restriction based on time or place or any other created thing.

‘I AM’ suggests changelessness. God was not one way yesterday and in some way different today. Nor is He one way today and yet may be another way tomorrow.

‘I AM’ tells us that God does not improve; He does not need to improve. He is complete in Himself. He is perfect; flawless. To say that in His divine character He ‘was’ or ‘will be’ would be to suggest that there could be a point of comparison suggesting a difference. He was not, is not, and will not ever be inferior or superior to what He is.

‘I AM’ tells us that God is the definition. He gives meaning to all that exists. All things begin with God. All things are sustained by God. All things end with God.

Moses asked to see God’s face and God passed before Moses, but He first declared himself verbally to Moses. In our English Bibles His name appears as the word ‘lord’ presented in all capital letters: LORD. Read Exodus 34. Think of ‘I AM’ as a name.

Listen as God declared Himself to Moses by name in verse six:

     The printed text reads, "The LORD God...."

Now, read His name...not a sentence...and ponder and wonder...

‘I AM’...God...

An "Aha!" Moment: God

Setting: Seventh grade math class...back when I was a school teacher...
   Matt did not understand; I explained again.
   Matt still did not understand; I explained again.
   Matt STILL did not understand; I explained YET AGAIN!

   "Aha!"

It was an exciting moment for Matt, and a gratifying moment for me as his teacher: an "Aha!" moment. Clarity. Insight. Knowledge realized.

Have you ever had an "Aha!" moment when you came to a sudden new realization of something you already knew, or perhaps something you had been told but did not understand? It was not new knowledge, but previous knowledge that had a new, strong and sudden impact.

Young parents are often struck with surprise as they realize with new insight the love their parents had for them. They knew it all along, but as they experience the deep love for their child, they realize that their parents must have had a similar experience with them. "Aha!"

Can you imagine the "Aha!" moment for the Apostles when they realized that the Messiah was not setting up an earthly kingdom? Jesus had tried to tell them; no, he had told them, but they had not understood.

Jewish Pentecost: Fifty days after the Passover and the crucifixion of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Apostles and they preached the gospel for the first time to a large Jewish crowd. What was it like when the Jews suddenly realized that Jesus of Nazareth WAS the prophesied Messiah? That they had crucified the Son of God!?

• Is your knowledge of God made up of teachings that have merely been handed down and accepted?
• Is the identity of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah and Son of God simply a dry biblical fact?
• Is your salvation merely an exercise in holding to correct biblical doctrine?
• Is your religion comfortable, but lacking AWE? 
• Have you chosen an easy path just to get along with others?

Pause. Reflect.

• Are you a Christian who has never had an "Aha!" moment?
• Does the magnificence of God impress your mind?
• Does His creation bring about a sense of awe in your heart?
• Does the reality of his wrath, but also his forgiveness, affect your soul?

Is 'God' a comfortable belief or an awe-inspiring being that overwhelms you?

Will you appear before God standing upright or will you tremble to the ground on your knees...on your face?

How great and wonderful is your God?

Oh that we might lift our eyes to see His magnificence.

The LORD passed in front of him [Moses] and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

And Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. 

--Exodus 34:6-8