His Mercies
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
There’s always been a pattern in the way God deals with man’s
disobedience. This pattern was first seen in the Garden, appears
repeatedly in the lives of the Patriarchs, in the history of Israel,
and is found all through the New Testament. Disobedience brought
consequences, but confession brought forgiveness and a new beginning.
Take the case of Abraham. The Lord had said to him, "Leave your country,
your people, and your father’s household and go into a land I will show
you". Genesis 12:1 But Abraham took his father, his nephew Lot, and all
their families, traveling only as far as Haran, about half way, where they
remained for several years. Later he continued, again with Lot and all the
possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, finally arriving in
Canaan many years after they first started out. Genesis 11:31, Genesis 12:4-5
After that they left again, for Egypt this time, where they acquired Hagar,
an Egyptian handmaiden, and got into trouble with Pharaoh for lying about
Abraham’s relationship with Sarah. Then, after waiting 18 years for the Lord
to give them a son, Abraham and Sarah decided to take matters into their
own hands. Hagar became the first surrogate mom in recorded history, giving
birth to Ishmael. And so Abraham, the first man to be called a Hebrew, caused
the birth of the first Arab. The problems that created continue to this day.
Are You Going to Obey Me or Not?
Variations on the same theme continue in the lives of Isaac,
Jacob, 11 of his 12 sons and ultimately in the history of the
nation they founded. In fact the entire Old Testament can
be summed up in one question. "Israel, are you going to
obey Me or not?" (The answer was clearly NO!)
For example, the land was given to Israel without condition in Genesis 17:7-8,
but to live there in peace and prosperity, they had to obey the Laws He
gave them. When they didn't, the Lord either permitted their enemies to
rule over them or had them taken from the land. Once these consequences
were experienced and they had turned back to Him, the Lord helped
them defeat their oppressors and return to their land.
Disobedience, consequence, confession, forgiveness, new beginning:
The pattern was repeated with the Philistines, Ammonites, Moabites,
Edomites, Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. Their latest
(and final) return, from the Roman expulsion, became official in 1948 and continues.
Why is He so Forgiving?
Why, when they continued to make the same mistakes over and over did He
always take them back? The answer is in Ezekiel 36:22. It is not for your sake,
O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of
My Holy Name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have
gone. It’s because He promised He would and His integrity is at stake. It
was an eternal and unconditional promise and their worthiness is not at issue.
The writer of Hebrews called Abraham a towering example of faith, omitting
any mention of these acts of disobedience in summarizing his life. Hebrews 11:8-12
And Paul described Abraham as one whose faith was credited to him as
righteousness, and who never wavered through unbelief. Romans 4:3, 20
It’s as if his acts of disobedience had never happened.
In Jeremiah 31:31-34 God promised a New Covenant that would
permit Him to forgive their wickedness and forget their sins.
That’s why there’s no mention of Abraham’s disobedience in the
New Testament. The New Covenant has come and the Lord is making
good on His promise to forgive all who ask and forget all we did.
"Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,
so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope". Romans 15:4 His Mercies are still new every morning.
He has promised to accept all who believe, irrespective of their worthiness.
"My Father’s Will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in
Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day". John 6:40
He's also promised to forgive us whenever we confess our sins,
even after we're saved. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
These are unconditional promises, given by One Who cannot lie. His integrity
is still at stake. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Are You Going to Believe Me or Not?
Just like He did with Israel, the Lord made eternal and unconditional
promises to the Church. These promises were signed in His own blood,
but even so, doubters ignore or re-interpret them, attempting to steal
away our certainty. Turns out the New Testament can be summed up
in a single question, too. "Church, are you going to believe Me or not?"
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