What really astonishes me about God is His willingness to forgive and restore a person. The Bible tells many stories of the failure of people to live up to God’s ways of righteousness and yet the same stories tell of God reaching out even when people are in the midst of their rebellion and sin.
Take Adam and Eve for example. They had a beautiful garden, each other’s company, and rule over the animals and everything that God had made. The only thing they didn’t have was permission to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were warned about the forbidden tree so they would not be surprised into sin and going against God. Yet, they stretched out their hands and took what was forbidden. Heartbreak for God! He wanted to walk, talk, and be with them yet He searched and found them hiding in the bushes and sewing fig leaves together for a covering…and God promised to provide the solution.
Then there was King David who had perfect confidence in God to deliver Goliath into his hand. His faith was rewarded in victory over Goliath. King David who spent years as a fugitive hiding from King Saul and who experienced much help from the Lord, yet who in a moment of lust and desire took Bathsheba, forbidden woman, because she was married to Uriah. God was sick. He sent Nathan the prophet with a story He was sure would reach David’s heart and it did. David finally saw his sin for what it was and repented…and God forgave him, comforting him through the consequences.
Ezekiel Chapter 16—God gave the nation of Israel everything—washed them, clothed them in silk and embroidered garments, and adorned them with all kinds of jewelry. But they played the harlot; took God’s gifts and used them for evil. In the end, even though punished for their wrongs, God provided atonement for them. WOW!John 11:51 says,“Jesus died for the nation.”
This is the God we serve. He focuses on His covenant and forgives our sin. He stands ready to give us robes of righteousness and a crown in heaven.
He still wants us, HE WANTS OUR COMPANY! Oh Wow! Oh Wow!
That’s totally awesome of God I think.