Powerful Compassionate God

Exodus 14:19-31, 15:1-13,21-22; Psalms 103:1-13

The Israelites are delivered from Egypt in our Exodus 14 passage by the power of God who turns the Red Sea into dry land which they can cross over safely. Then God causes the waters to come back and drown out all the Egyptians who are chasing them. In chapter 15 they sing a song of praise to the Lord who has triumphed gloriously. From this act of miraculous deliverance, they declare that God is their strength and might. They say that God has become their salvation. Little do they known then that God will later send Christ to bring salvation from sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with God.

While the Israelites boast of God’s powerful deliverance from the Egyptians, David in Psalm 103 praises God for the Lord’s compassion and mercy. This is shown in God forgiving all our iniquities, healing all our diseases, redeeming our lives from the Pit, and crowning us with steadfast love and mercy. God’s steadfast love is mentioned three times in this passage. David says how the Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. God’s mercy is shown in how the Lord is slow to anger and does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay- punish us according to our iniquities. In fact, God through Christ’s death on the cross removes our transgressions from us.

Though God has made known the Lord’s powerful ways to Moses through acts and miracles, God’s compassion is like that which a father has for his children.

Have there been times in your life where God has gotten you through rough spots where we can claim like the Israelites that the Lord is our strength and our might? Then can we be thankful like David who forgets none of the benefits – blessings God has brought in our lives. Let us not forget to thank God for the Lord’s strength and compassion. Amen.

 

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