God's Alien Task vs. His WIlling Work

When God revealed Himself to Moses on Mt. Sinai, even following the incident of idolatry by the children of Israel involving the golden calf, He gave this description of himself to Moses: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7).  This is God’s most complete self-revelation up to this point in time. In it He characterizes Himself as a God of grace. 

Now it’s true that God does go on to say: “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus 34:7).  Some would argue that this addendum negates God’s claim of graciousness.  Indeed, one could argue that these words sound almost vindictive and vengeful.  However this is nothing more than a restatement of God’s threat in connection with the Second Commandment.  God’s words there clarify His meaning here:  “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6, emphasis mine).  God’s punishment is extended only to those who hate Him, but on the other hand, He shows mercy to not just three or four generations, but to a thousand generations of those who love Him.   

God must uphold His holiness and righteousness by punishing sin, but He does not delight in doing so.  In fact, such work is referred to as an “alien” work.  In Isaiah 28 God says this: “The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon—to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task. Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land” (Isaiah 28:21-22 emphasis mine). These words of warning against Israel illustrate God’s attitude toward punishing sin with judgment and destruction.  It is not something God delights in.  It gives Him no pleasure. Parazim and Gibeon were places where God had given Israel victories over their enemies.  So it really would be strange for Him to rise up (as He once had on Israel’s behalf in those places) in order to punish their sin and rebellion. 

The prophet Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations also shows us the true character of the God of the Old Testament.  “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.  Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.  For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men” (Lamentations 3:31-33, emphasis mine).  Yes, God necessarily, nevertheless unwillingly, does sometimes afflict us in our sinful rebellion.  His heart’s desire, however, is to show compassion, which He will unfailingly do at the very moment of our return to Him in repentance.

 

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Twice through the prophet Ezekiel God tells us that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23 and 33:11).  Yes, God does punish the wicked and pay the wages that sin earns.  But this is not something that God delights in.  Rather, God’s Word tells us:  “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18 emphasis mine).  Yes, “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  That’s because meting out death is God’s alien work, but His proper work in which He delights is giving life to repentant sinners by grace.  And this is just as true of God in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament.

The God of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, then, is a God who delights to show mercy.  Granting grace is God's customary work.  Because of our sinful rebellion God is forced at times to exhibit His alien work, which is wrath and punishment.  But He finds no joy in performing this work, and would much rather show grace and mercy to all who will receive it.  Showing grace and mercy is the work God willingly undertakes!

Copyright by the Author.