God is merciful and compassionate.

Romans 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.” The reason Paul gives for defending God’s righteousness in loving Jacob but hating Esau is this awe-inspiring statement God made to Moses when Moses asked to see God’s glory. We find it in Ex. 33:18-19. “Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” Then in Exodus 34:5-8 God did what He promised. “The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.’ Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship.” Moses was considered by God to be the most humble man alive at the time. When he heard these words, instead of faulting God for not leaving the guilty unpunished and visiting the iniquity of fathers on future generations of those who hate Him, He humbled himself and bowed in worship. So should we! As we watch God deal with the entire race of fallen man who are hostile with God and whose every intent of their thoughts are only evil continually as it says in Gen. 6:6, we ought to be stunned that He loves anyone and is willing to show mercy and compassion. Because we know God is just and right to be merciful and compassionate to those He loves in Christ, we have confidence to love everyone God places in our lives by showing mercy and compassion. We are loving with Jesus the same way He has loved us. May our lives be examples of the mercy and compassion of the Lord for His glory as we leave the results to Him. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com