A God Like You

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency.” Micah 7:18

The one verse from Micah that you probably know off the top of your head is not the verse from Micah for today. Rather, it’s Micah 6:8. There, the prophet details all that God wants and expects from the people: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. It’s a beautiful verse. The problem is that the people of Micah’s day were failing miserably to do these things. And today? Same as it ever was.

This is what makes the end of Micah so amazing. The book alternates between oracles of judgment and oracles of hope. Hope always gets the last word. Micah reminds us that God is not a God who doesn’t get angry. If I were the creator of heaven and earth and saw how people were acting, I’d be mad, too. The marvelous thing about God is that God always comes back to hope. God delights in forgiveness. To drive home the point, Jesus dies for us. There is no length to which God wouldn’t go to forgive and restore us.

Restored, we get to take another crack at justice, kindness, and that humble walk with God. May it go well for you today. If it doesn’t, trust the forgiveness given to you for the sake of Christ. What kind of God would do such things? Fortunately, the God we have is just such a God.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God, there is none like you. We hold our anger close and keep grudges long. But you choose to let things these go for the sake of your love. Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, whose forgiveness is a delight. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: “Boy With Day-Old Doughnut Ponders the Divine Mystery of Grace”