THE MERCIES OF GOD – PART 4
TEXT: ROM. 9:15 - For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Brethren, as we conclude our theme for the month on the mercies of God, I am convinced that you would have realised by now that it is through His mercies that you have not been consumed. In the last 3 weeks we have been looking at how His mercies have kept us, made us what/who we are and how we can initiate His mercies to endure for us and our generations.
Today we shall be looking at what we ought to do at those times, situations, circumstances and occasions when it would appear that His mercies have deserted us. I am aware that some people have problems with accepting the existence of God as a result of tragedies or losses that have happened to them or their loved ones. Often, they question if there can be a God when there seems to be the presence of sufferings. Beloved, I am here to tell you that God is not God because of what happens to us, but He is God, our Creator and who has control over those things that can ever happen to us. We need to understand this if we want to walk with God. Many patriarchs of old in the bible have to come to that realisation before their miracles could come forth. A case in point is Job.
Job said in Job 13: 15 that “though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (KJV). When God says He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, it means that He determines whom He would have mercy on and when He would show His mercies. In addition, He went further to say in Rom. 9: 16 that “it does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy” (NIV). Notice that the bible says that it is not by our desire, or the way we feel, or how we wish or about how well we can scheme, but rather on His mercies. This is the understanding that Job had that made him to confidently and unequivocally affirm his position of absolute trust in God irrespective of his personal loss and gloom. Brethren, be it that the bad experience we are going through is as a result of our failings or not, it is certain that God’s mercy can still be made perfect in that experience. That is why the bible says in Deut. 4:31, that “for the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath” (NIV). Even when it appears that we are alone, He is promising that He would not abandon us or destroy us. Why? It is because He is a merciful God inspite of what we may be feeling or going through.
In Lam. 3:32 we read that “but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies (KJV).” This shows that it is possible for God to show His displeasure by causing misery or grief, but we are assured that His anger is not for ever but rather He would still remember His mercies as a result of His compassion towards us. I am sure that many parents would be able to relate with this. It is expected that every loving parent would not condone their children’s misbehaviour or disobedience; but ensure that sanctions or punishment are imposed on any erring child. However, this would always be out of their love for the child rather than out of hatred and a desire for the child to be permanently destroyed. Infact, in Isaiah 54:7 God says “for a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee (NIV).” It means that when God punishes or is angry towards us it is for a small or brief moment. Also, in Isaiah 54:8 the bible records His promise to us: “in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer” (KJV). So per adventure He appears to have hidden His face from you, trust Him because it is only for a brief moment and be assured that it shall soon pass away because of his mercies that endures even at such a time. No wonder the psalmist says in Psalm 30: 5 that “for his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (NIV.
Is anyone weeping at the moment? I can assure you that your joy is at hand. It is not a word of prophesy but a statement of fact based on His word that can never fall to the ground. Are you going through what appears to be abandonment? I can assure you that it is for a brief moment. Why do I know? It is because His words say so and because of his mercies that endure for ever. May the lord grant you the grace to wait in Jesus name. What do you do while you are waiting? Keep your hope in His enduring mercies alive. It is important that your time of waiting should be with Him. The bible says in Isa. 40: 30 - 31 that “even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (NIV). Brethren, your strength lie in waiting on Him and on His mercies.
May the God Almighty teach you to wait in Jesus name.
Shalom.
Dr. Yinka Okude
Pastor-in-Charge
RCCG Jesus Sanctuary, Northampton