BULLETIN ARTICLE
26 May 2019
GOD OF KINDNESS
“Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you” (Genesis 21:23).
Abimelek, King of Gerar, had witnessed God’s blessings on Abraham and sought to make a covenant (swear to me here before God) with him. Abimelek said to Abraham “God is with you in everything you do” (Genesis 21:22). It is not clear how Abimelek came to this conclusion. He could have seen Isaac’s miraculous birth and Abraham’s evident prosperity. Abimelek felt that Abraham’s fortunes would continue in future generations and decided that it would be to his best interests to have an agreement (treaty) with Abraham.
The word “kindness” that Abimelek used is a technical term in Hebrew. Abraham promised to show kindness and mercy to Abimelek and his descendants in return for the kindness and mercy Abimelek had shown him. However, the idea is more than just reciprocating the favour shown. It denotes unconditional commitment. The word is also used frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. King David fulfilled the covenant by caring for King Saul’s son Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth, as recorded in 2 Samuel 9:7 – “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him (Mephibosheth), “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table”. Most often, however, it is used in relation to God and his character. When God passed before Moses after giving him the second 2 stone tablets (10 Commandments), he declared himself to be “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). Moses repeated this promise back to God when begging him to forgive the Israelites in Numbers 14:18–19 – “The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation. In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now”. Moses again pointed to this steadfast love of God when giving the law to the people a second time before they entered the Promised Land – “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9). God is a covenant-keeping God who is full of kindness. He extends mercy, kindness, and love because it is in his character to do so faithfully forever. What should be our response then to such a God of kindness, mercy, and love? Surely it calls for undivided commitment, love and obedience to him. This will result in kindness, love and mercy to people. Always remember – LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE!
