“ ‘ “ For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. “ For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. . .” ‘ ” Isaiah 54: 7-9, NKJV.
Gracious God, we are grateful that Your wrath may last for a moment, but Your mercy will endure forever. In the midst of our pain and suffering, please help us not to forget this; for we ask it in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Perhaps somebody today is going through a very hard situation. It is doubly hard because you cannot understand why. As far as you are concerned, you did everything that you were supposed to do, but here you are in the midst of all this pain and suffering. Where is God? you may be asking. Where is His love and mercy? Where is the abundant life that Jesus came to earth to bring us? Let me assure you that you are not alone in your query.
There are those who think these thoughts but they will never admit it. There are others who will resist these thoughts, because they are afraid that God would be angry with them. And then, there are those who know their Abba so well, and love Him so much, that they ask these questions while holding tight to the hem of His garment. They are like the small child, who has just been given “time out,” or has been disciplined in some way, and with tears running down his or her cheeks, he or she is holding on to mama’s apron, because he or she knows that mama loves him or her.
We will spend some days comparing God’s wrath with His mercy. So many people serve a God that they are afraid of. I should know – I did. But oh, the joy, when we discover that God is bigger than our anger, bigger than our doubts, bigger than our fears, bigger than our questions. Oh the joy, when we discover that He is the answer to all our doubts and questions! God wants us to be aware of this. If we were, I honestly believe that no one would consider taking his or her own life. There would be no need to. Because even, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me” (Psalm 27: 10). Hallelujah!
Let us observe for a few minutes how the prophet Isaiah juxtaposes God’s wrath and His mercy in these verses: ” ‘ “ With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” ‘ “ How do we compare “a little” with “everlasting?” The dictionary puts it this way: Little: “Short in extension or duration; brief” “Without much power or influence; of minor status” (The Free Dictionary by Farlex). Now let us look at, Everlasting: “Lasting forever; eternal” “Everlasting God” (Ibid). How is that for comparison! To show the extent of everlasting, the dictionary defines it as God! God has no end! His mercy has no end! Glory! Hallelujah!
My friend, whatever you are going through today, no matter how long it seems to be lasting – in God’s time, it is “brief” and of “minor status[.]” But the mercy God has for you, “[lasts] forever[;]” it is “eternal[!]” There is no comparison! It does not feel this way now – but do not forget it!
We will continue.
NOTE: There has been a correction made to our Scripture for today.