Micah 7:18

New International Version (NIV)

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.

For Meditation

There is nothing torturous than anticipating the reaction of someone you have offended. “When will they return?” “What will they say?”

I remember the day I broke into my mother’s bedroom and stole some money. She was on a business trip, so I had a lot of time to cover my tracks. However, one of my aunties confronted me when she observed my spending spree. After suffering through her interrogation, she promised she wouldn’t tell. But I was not sure. Therefore, I put on my best shine. I swept every corner of our house, washed all my mother’s clothes, including the clean ones. I cooked her favorite meal, and made sure I was by the roadside to welcome her. As she distributed the fish to the retailers through the night, my heart was in my mouth. Had my auntie revealed our secret? Will my mother forgive me?  I could literary feel her cane tearing into my back; until she entered her bedroom and bid me goodnight.

Sometimes, we mess up very bad with God. We know what we have done, but no one saw us. We are burning on the inside, thinking our silence would keep it buried for good. We do not have to suffer the torture of concealed sin; our God is merciful. David describes his feelings during such a time after the Bathsheba trilogy – adultery, deception, murder.

“When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long … Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity … and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Ps.   32:3-5).

1. Isn’t it good to know that our God is merciful and trustworthy? “Who is a God like you”, Micah said (Micah 7:18).
2. Does He not pardon sin?
3. Does He not forgive our transgressions?
4. How could He be angry forever when He delights in showing mercy?
5. With a merciful and compassionate God like our Jesus, why should we suffer when we could confess and be forgiven (Ps. 32:5)?

I got my lashes the following day alright, but I didn’t have to suffer the way I did through the night.

So: May you confess that ‘thing’, which is killing you and free yourself in God’s mercy and grace. “He is faithful and just and will forgive” you (1 Jn. 1:9).

God’s forgiveness is sure healing for our aching bones.

Shalom