Friday, November 30, 2012

Forgiveness Is Not an Eraser


Numbers 14:17-20  -  And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying,  "The Lord is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and the fourth generation.”  Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now. Then the Lord said, "I do forgive, just as you have asked…

 

Moses…what an amazing man…to pray in the face of such rebellion and hatred….to call for the protection and forgiveness of the very people who wanted to stone him. It is no wonder God chose him for a leader. God had just offered to let him off the hook…kill the whole nation that had failed to see God’s great plan for their lives…and start over with him. But Moses’ heart…full of love and compassion for his people…plead for their lives instead….and reminded God of his promise to forgive.

 

God did forgive…and spared their lives…for a season…but the lesson he taught them because of their rebellion would last another 40 years….and bring into being a whole new generation of Israelites…only Caleb and Joshua would live through the 40 year trek through the wilderness.  They would somehow be blessed through the next 40 years…while the people who complained would all die of old age in the harsh conditions of the wilderness.

 

God’s forgiveness does not erase our past.  It cleanses us from guilt…but we sometime deal with the consequences of what we did long after we accept God’s love and change our hearts. It is how we deal with those consequences that prove to God that we truly love him more than ourselves. It is how we gracefully accept the consequences of our sins…that prove to God we really have changed our hearts.

 

Like Caleb and Joshua…we become brave and courageous in the face of obstacles.  Like Moses…we become even more humble…and pray for everyone…despite the way we are treated by them. Like Caleb and Joshua…we accept the next 40 years of wandering…and anticipate the promised land instead of grumbling that we did not deserve the same punishment as the rest. Like Moses…we continue in the task God gave us to do…and continue to pray for guidance and wisdom to lead the people with God’s presence right by his side.

 

Father… I am amazed by the love and forgiveness you show to me.  Help me to accept the consequences of my sins…as lessons in how to love you through all that happens in my life.  Help me to be strong and courageous like Caleb and Joshua….and face every hardship that comes my way with your strength…and your courage.  Help me to really understand how to talk to you like Moses…and intercede for others…and love them despite what they might have done to me or others. Help me see the possibilities of love…instead of the consequences of my past…so you can use me to complete the job you have given me to do. Amen.

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