Proof of God's Mercy

Are you not quite convinced that God loves you unconditionally and that all of your sins are forgiven? Are you skeptical of this because you feel that it is impossible? It is impossible -- for humans, that is. For God, all things are possible!

Still not convinced? Hmm, tough crowd. Don't give up just yet, though; first, let me present some proof that God loves His people and is all-forgiving through a quick study of the book of Judges.

The events in Judges occur roughly one generations after the Israelites are established in the land God has given them. Both Moses and his successor, Joshua, have died. The book of Judges is a brief history of the Israelites during the time when God sends judges to preside over them. During the period covered in this text, the Israelites are constantly facing new armies and also falling away from God. The following passage generally sums up the entire book:

"And the children of Israel did evil in the sigh of the Lord, and served Baalim; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.... And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of hte Lord was against them for evil.... Nevertheless the Lord raised up the judges which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them.... And it came to pass, that when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods...they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way" (Judges 2: 11-19).

This passage is saying that God loved the Israelites, His chosen people, and He sent judges to them to do His will. However, after the current judge delivered the people from the opposing army, the people would again break their covenant with the Lord and start worshipping false gods. This of course would anger the Lord, who would turn against the Israelites; however, he always took pity on their "groanings" (Judges 2:18) and appointed a new judge. The Israelites turned away from the Lord a total of six times in Judges.

Even through the Israelites' constant infidelity, God continued to love and forgive them, showing His great mercy. After the sixth time did God say, "Well, that's it, I've give you enough chances, I'm not sending anyone to help you anymore and I am withdrawing my blessings"? No! Although God was angry, He also continued to forgive the Israelites.

Like the Israelites, we continually sin against the Lord, and this hurts Him. However, if we continue to call upon His name and beg forgiveness as the Israelites did, then He will never turn His back on us. God will never abandon us, no matter how many times we sin against Him. He truly is a merciful and loving God!

"And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him [Jesus], having forgiven us all our trespasses." (Colossians 2:13)