CONFESSION AND COMPASSION

Bible Reading: Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5,9; 9:1-4, 16-17, 19, 27

 

How many times have you heard (or said yourself, perhaps), “The God of the Old Testament is all about Law, judgment and punishment?” often continuing with, “Thank goodness for the New Testament, where Jesus is all loving and compassionate.” At first glance, these observations may appear true. But as you read more and more in the Old Testament, you see quite the contrary.

 

In the verses for today, we see just one example of a repeating pattern:

·         The Israelites walked away from God (Neh 9:16-17)

·         were confronted with their sin ((Neh 8: 1-3, 5, 9)

·         were faced with consequences of their sin (Neh 9: 27a)

·         confessed their sin, cried out to God (Neh 9: 1-3)

·         each time experienced the forgiveness of their loving and compassionate Father (Neh 9: 17b; 19; 27b)

 

Time and again, God’s people of the Old Testament forgot how He took care of them and turned their collective backs on Him. And once again the Lord, in his mercy and love, disciplined them to bring them back to Himself to receive His forgiveness.

 

How God dealt with His people in ancient times is no different than He deals with us, His forgetful people in the Church today.

 

Thank you, Father, for your faithful pattern of compassion and forgiveness in response to our repeated forgetfulness and sin pattern in our lives. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness (Lam 3 22-23).”

Isaac and Abimelech -- Genesis 26

I am finding it such an adventure to start at the beginning of the Bible and travel through times past. Together we embark on this journey at the foundation of time, moving through history, discovering our roots. We are learning about the many firsts of life. We read about the first sin, the first piece of clothing, the first parental experience, the first flood, first covenant; the list goes on and on.

In Genesis 26:1-3 we learn about another first, the first witness protection program. There was a famine in the land... And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you…”

Isaac needed to escape the famine, but he also needed to keep his family safe. God told him to go to Gerar and to stay out of Egypt. God was sending Isaac to a safe place, He was going to keep Isaac and his people protected during the famine. God promised Isaac he would keep His promise to Abraham, and that in the end He would give all Abraham's descendants these lands.

I find it truly amazing the God of Isaac wants to do the same for me and my family. He tells me to keep close to Him. His promise of protection is evident by the salvation He provided us when He sent His only Son to die. Can you feel the love?

Read the entire scripture reading for today at Biblegateway and Genesis 26

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