Recently, I finished writing the Old Testament account of Moses leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. After reading this book, I saw God in a different light than I had before…
During their journey, they came across the rock of Meribah. So the Lord told Moses to speak to him. Then the water will flow out. Instead, Moses took God’s staff and struck the rock. It was at that moment that everything changed for Moses. Because Moses sinned, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.
So what exactly was his crime? When I first read this verse, I couldn’t understand why God would punish Moses so harshly. After all, he probably thought that God’s rod would secure the covenant with the people of Israel as a symbol of what God had done for them. In reality, Moses’ actions showed a lack of faith in God. “And without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Fast forward to the day before Israel entered the Promised Land… “Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “to your descendants I will give it to you.” I have made you see it with your own eyes, but you will not go there.” So Moses the servant of the Lord died in the land of Moab, obeying the word of the Lord. And the LORD buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor. But to this day, no one knows where he was buried. Moses died at the age of 120, but his eyesight remained undiminished and his energy remained undiminished. ” Deuteronomy 34:4-7
Can you see what I’m seeing? God presents himself as a merciful Father who allowed Moses to see the Promised Land even though he did not allow him to enter it. Not only that, but we see that Moses remained in good health for 120 years. But the deepest of all this is that even though Moses never entered the earthly Promised Land, on that very day he will enter the ultimate Promised Land, eternity with the Father.
I think we have all seen God at one time or another as someone who completes a demanding task. Perhaps some of you are still struggling in this area because of situations that test your relationship with your Heavenly Father.
As you continue reading, your perspective will change and you will be able to see your Heavenly Father in a different light. It dispels the myth of a harsh creator and finds a kind father.
merciful and merciful
“The Lord is merciful and kind, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Psalm 103:8
Many Christians have commented that they have a hard time reading the Old Testament because God seems so harsh. They want to move quickly to the New Testament, where the love of Jesus shines on every page. I’ve been there too…
The point here is that to understand the New Testament and its true meaning, you need to understand the Old Testament. Those first stories form the basis of the Father’s mercy and mercy. You might think mercy and pity?? where are you seeing it? All I see is God’s wrath and wrath. You may not know it the first time you read the Bible, but I promise you that as you mature in your faith, you will not only understand the Bible, but you will begin to see yourself in it… But why should you wait until you mature in your faith? Focus on God’s character. See the whole story. The Old Testament also points out the love of Jesus…
Think about it. How many chances did Heavenly Father give the Israelites when they sinned against God? His mercy is depicted in continuous and innumerable ways. The scriptures, especially the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Judges, depict a continuing cycle of rebellion and repentance by the Israelites, and God’s forgiveness and deliverance of them. It is not a harsh creator. He is a kind father after all.
The next time you read a passage from the Old Testament, ask the Lord to reveal Himself as a gracious and merciful Father. The Lord will answer. Even in those “difficult” stories, we will come to see God’s great patience through His mercy and compassion.
The Old Testament outlines everything needed to erase a person’s sins. The amount of blood that had to be shed by animal sacrifice. Frequent cleansing that had to be done to be holy before the Lord. But God in His mercy and mercy sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for all our sins, past, present, and future. Our Heavenly Father was setting the stage throughout all the Old Testament stories, not to show Himself to be a harsh Father, but to show us what it would cost Him. he is free
He did this for us. God took the weight of our sin and placed it on Jesus so that we could experience God’s mercy and mercy.
safe haven
“The Lord your God is with you, a mighty warrior who saves; he will greatly delight in you; because of his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Whether you see God as a strict creator or not, it’s all a matter of perspective. We can view the stories of the Old Testament through the lens of a harsh God, and we can also see what they actually show us: an angry yet ever-protective Lord.
When we shift our perspective, understanding that disobedience ultimately leads to heartache and hardship, we see that the Lord’s ending is never cruel, but rather to reorient us to a life of obedience in order to experience joy and peace. Our Heavenly Father wants to set the conditions for successful obedience.
No matter what spiral of shame you are in, no matter how deep you fall into sin, you can know that the Lord will not treat you harshly, but will take you back under His wings and protect you. God is your refuge even when you need to protect yourself and your sins. The consequences of your sin are what will draw you back to God’s safe haven, where He will no longer rebuke you but rejoice over you with singing.
our daddy
“I led them with cords of human kindness and ties of love; I was to them as lifting the cheek of a little child, and I stooped down to feed them.” Hosiah 11:4
What a beautiful verbal picture this verse paints! No matter how old we are, we are still God’s “little” children. It calms any soul to imagine that He holds us and cares for us. We all have an instinct for a father’s love. Something that makes us feel protected.
Some of us may go back to our childhood and remember how safe and loved our fathers made us feel. That makes it easy for us to see God as a kind father, but what if you grew up with a harsh earthly father? It can certainly hurt your view of your father, especially God. At first, you may wonder why God would allow me to be treated this way by my earthly father. Or maybe you just feel uncomfortable with the word “father” in general.
The Lord may have allowed a situation with your earthly father to draw you closer to Him. “Even if my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Psalm 27:10 Sometimes, after experiencing the lowest of life, we experience the highest of joy. The joy you experience will be even greater when you allow your Heavenly Father to shower his love on you despite your past.
Talk to someone who is suffering physically or mentally because of their earthly father and know that your Heavenly Father loves you. Allow God to pick you up and draw you to his cheek. You are not worthless before God. God’s love is perfect. God created you to be His. Before the world began, God chose you. Test God on this. Then God will show you the perfect love of your heavenly Father.
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for considering You a harsh Creator. Thank you for being such a loving father to me. In Jesus name, amen
Are you struggling to see God as a loving father? How can you change your perspective?
Photo credit: Unsplash/Brittani-Burns
Karen Dell Tattoo is a blogger, author, women’s ministry leader, pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother who is passionate about God’s Word. Her blog, “Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge,” and her books, “Choosing to Trust God: Breaking the Habit of Worry,” “A 30-Day Devotional,” and “Choosing to Trust God Companion Journal,” reveal her heart offering biblical insights to inspire women to grow in, through, and overcome hardship. Karen and her husband live in Rhode Island and enjoy walking in the woods, petting owls, and spending time with their grandchildren.
