Exodus 25:22 (NKJV)
And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
Exodus 34:6-7 (NKJV)
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…”
I was mad. I had told them what they needed to do. I didn’t mix words but spoke plainly. They chose to do the exact opposite. So now they were paying the price and so was I. If they would only have listened… just done what I had said… but no – they had to be hard-headed. I was so irritated. Not just because I would have to deal with it, but because it pained me to see them have to go through those consequences. I’m sure they thought their decision would have zero impact on me. They were wrong.
I prayed. “Lord, if I’m not supposed to be angry at this, then please show me.” It was around 3:30 in the morning before I understood the answer to that question. It wasn’t really that I didn’t have a right to be angry – it was more that I had an opportunity to show mercy. That is how God approaches it isn’t it? He lays out commands, instructions, principles and we are supposed to comply. As His children, we should obey. We don’t always do that… at least I don’t. So when we disobey, we pay the price… and in the end He pays it to. Well — He already paid the price, but now He pays again because I think it breaks His heart to see us suffer needlessly and in a sense He re-applies the blood of Jesus to cover the new failure. It is the only thing that keeps us from His anger, from His judgment.
He has every right to be mad and let us suffer alone. Instead, He shows mercy. Mercy. The choice to show compassion to someone who does not deserve it. It is what God does for us. It is what I should choose to do for them. So instead of being mad, I recognize that I am a similar offender. My sin is an affront to almighty God and if He can show mercy to me, then surely I can show mercy to them.
I am no longer angry. Saddened at the predicament they are in, but compassionate and willing to help soften the blow where possible. I do not hold it against them because God doesn’t hold anything against me. May God be pleased.