Recently, I finished the Old Testament account of Moses leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. This read through, I saw God in a different light than before…
During their journey, they came upon the Rock in Meribah, where the Lord told Moses to speak to it, and water would flow out. Instead, Moses picked up the staff of God and struck the rock. It was that moment that changed everything for Moses. Because of his sin, Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.
So what exactly was his sin? In some of my first read-throughs of this passage, I didn’t understand why God would be so harsh in His punishment of Moses. After all, he probably thought that the staff of God would surely seal the deal, possibly as a symbol to the Israelites of what God had done for them. The reality is, Moses’ action showed a lack of faith in God. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6
Fast forward to the day before Israel would enter into the Promised Land… “Then the Lord said to him, 'This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not go over there.” So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, in accordance with the word of the Lord. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows his burial place to this day. Although Moses was 120 years old when he died, his eyesight was not dim, nor had his vigor left him.” Deuteronomy 34:4-7
Do you see what I see? God is showing Himself as a merciful Father who, although Moses would not be permitted to enter the Promised Land, allowed him to view it. Not only that, we see that Moses enjoyed good health his entire 120 years! But what is the most profound of all of this, although Moses would not enter the earthly Promised Land, that very day, he would enter the ultimate Promised Land, eternity with the Father.
I think we all, at one time or another, have viewed God as a harsh taskmaster. Maybe some of you are still struggling in that area due to circumstances that have tested your relationship with the Heavenly Father.
As you continue reading, it will shift your perspective, helping you see your Heavenly Father in a different light. One that will dispel the myth of a harsh Creator to find a gentle Father.
Merciful and Compassionate
"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love." Psalm 103:8
Many Christians have commented that they struggle with reading the Old Testament because God seems so harsh. They want to move quickly onto the New Testament, where Jesus’ love shines through every page. I’ve been there too…
Here’s the thing: to appreciate the New Testament and what it truly means, we have to understand the Old Testament. Those initial stories are foundational to the Father’s mercy and compassion. You might think, mercy and compassion?? Where are you seeing that?? All I see is God’s anger and wrath! You might not see it on the first read through of the Bible, but I promise, as you mature in your Faith, you will start to not only comprehend it, but notice yourself in it… But why wait until you mature in your Faith? Focus on the character of God. Look at the whole story. Even the Old Testament is pointing to Jesus' love…
Think about it. How many chances did our Heavenly Father give the Israelites when they sinned against Him? His mercy is portrayed as continual and countless. The scriptures, particularly in Exodus, Numbers, and Judges, feature an ongoing cycle of the Israelites rebelling, repenting, and God forgiving and delivering them. That’s not a harsh Creator; that’s ultimately a gentle Father.
The next time you are reading passages in the Old Testament, ask the Lord to reveal Himself as the merciful and compassionate Father that He is. The Lord will answer. You will start to see His great patience through His mercy and compassion, even in those “difficult” stories.
The Old Testament outlines everything required to erase a person’s sin. The amount of blood that had to be shed through animal sacrifices. The frequent purifying that had to be done to be holy before the Lord. But God, in His mercy and compassion, sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for all of our sins - past, present, and future. Our Heavenly Father was setting the stage through all of those Old Testament stories, not to show that He was a harsh Father, but to show what it would cost Him. He freely
did this for us. He removed the weight of our sin and placed it upon Jesus so that we would experience His compassion and mercy.
A Safe Refuge
"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
Whether or not you view God as a harsh Creator, it really is all about perspective. We can look at those Old Testament stories through a lens that sees a harsh God, or we can see what they truly show: the Lord constantly protecting the Israelites, EVEN in His anger.
When we shift our perspective, understanding that disobedience ultimately leads to heartache and trouble, we will recognize that the Lord's consequences are never meant to be cruel but to redirect us to live obedient lives so that we will experience joy and peace. Our Heavenly Father wants to set the parameters for success in obedience.
No matter what shame spiral you might be in, or how deep in sin you are, you can know that the Lord will not treat you harshly, but will take you back under His wings and protect you. He IS your refuge, even when you need to take cover from yourself and your sin. The consequences of your sin are what draw you back to God’s safe refuge, where He no longer will rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
Our Daddy
"I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them." Hosiah 11:4
What a beautiful Word picture this verse paints. No matter how old we are, we are still God’s “little” children. To imagine him lifting us close and taking care of us would calm any soul. There is something innate in all of us that wants the love of a father. One to make us feel protected.
Some of us can go back to our childhoods and remember how safe and loved our own father made us feel, making it easy for us to view God as a gentle Father, but what if you grew up with a harsh earthly father? That certainly can tarnish your view of any father, especially God. You might first think, how could God have allowed me to be treated that way by my earthly Father? Or it just sours you on the term' father' in general.
The Lord may have allowed the circumstances with your earthly father to draw you to Himself. "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." Psalm 27:10 Sometimes it is after we have experienced the lowest points in our lives that we enjoy the highest. When you allow your “Daddy” in Heaven to shower His love upon you despite your past, the joy you will experience will be all the more heightened.
Speaking to the person who has suffered as a result of their earthly father, whether it be physically or emotionally, please know that your Heavenly Father loves you. Allow Him to pick you up and draw you close to His cheek. You are NOT worthless before His eyes. God’s love is perfect. He created you to be His! He chose YOU before the worlds began. Test Him in this, and He will show you, Perfect Love as YOUR Heavenly Daddy.
Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive us for seeing you as a Harsh Creator. Thank you for being the Gentle Father that you are. In Jesus Name, Amen
Do you struggle with viewing God as a Gentle Father? How can you change your viewpoint?
Photo credit: Unsplash/Brittani-Burns
