Mercy, forgiveness and
the Ways of God
Written and published by Jean-Louis. 12/2012. Revised
2017
The basic text is found in Isaiah 55: 8: "For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, and "your ways are not my ways”
1. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
As an interpretation of this statement of God by
the mouth of the prophet, I've always heard that man is so much inferior to God
that he can in no way be compared to him. This being true, I do not think that
this is the primary meaning or intent of this passage. The usual statement´s
application covers any condition and any situation that baffles human
understanding and prevents any further action or probing because of the
transcendental nature of God.
A closer analysis of the whole context in the preceding verses and the previous
chapter show that God here is teaching by analogy a very important lesson on
forgiveness and the resulting effects of the demonstration of compassion, mercy
and grace, attributes of His divine nature. The way I understand it, He
is saying that whereas man would exact payment for food and water and work for wages,
God gives freely and graciously if wicked man would turn to him and receive
pardon. Whereas man in his natural state would not forgive wrong done to him
and retaliate, seeking revenge, the Lord is compassionate and forgiving. So, to
this extent and in this sense, it is true that man is unlike God. It reveals
more about the pettiness of man´s spirit contrasted with the magnanimous,
compassionate loving heart of our merciful Heavenly Father.
First notice the order. The verse begins with the
Alpha, the beginning, the initiator of everything good and holy in our lives.
It is my understanding that this verse does not mean that man is unable to
think like God because man as a new creature, born again by the power of the
Holy Spirit has the indwelling Spirit of Christ as Paul says in I Corinthians
2: 12-16:
12 What we have received is not the
spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand
what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in
words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining
spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[c] 14 The person without the Spirit
does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them
foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through
the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about
all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,“Who
has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”But we have the mind of
Christ.” For a more detailed, concise explanation of what it means to
have the mind of Christ.
2. "And your ways are not my ways.”
In the first part of the verse, the contrast
between the OT and the NT scriptures is obvious and clear. On the other hand, the
second part speaking of the ways of the Lord presents a word order in the
reverse, beginning with man and his ways.
Psalm 103: 7 states that: "He made known
his ways to Moses." But "he made known his deeds to the son
of Israel." "The
Jews require a sign," Paul declares in I Corinthians 1:22.
To me, the verse in Isaiah 55 simply means that man
in his natural state as a sinner would not forgive an offense against him. Rather he would seek a means of
revenge for expressing his resentment, bitterness and anger.
An example of these attitudes and intentions of the
heart occurred very early in the history of man. Genesis 4:23 tells us how a
descendant of Cain, Lamech, known for his jealousy, anger and murder of his
brother Abel, boasted of his intention to avenge an injury by the death of his
opponent and that he would be willing to take revenge seventy-seven times.
Contrast
this malicious intent in the heart of a wicked man with the Lord Jesus´
answer when Peter asked how many times we should forgive our brother who
has offended us. Here is the beginning of the parable of the unmerciful servant: "Then Peter came to Jesus and
asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins
against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not
seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21,22. NIV
While man
since the dawn of time has sought revenge, the Lord God full of compassion and
forgiveness has reconciled us to himself through the sacrifice of his Son, the
Lord Jesus-Christ. It is He through the operating power of the Holy Spirit who
gives us the will, the courage and the strength to seek reconciliation and to
forgive those who offend us. The Lord does not ask us to do whatever He commands
us without giving us specific instructions, clear explanations and strength to
do His will.
May the
God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind
toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one
mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to
bring praise to God." Romans 15:5-7.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (NIV)
Understood that way, the Lord reveals the chasm between sinful man and a
Holy God and provides the only way to ford the distance between the two by the
power of His word in His covenants and promises. This way is found throughout
the whole Bible as being the Lord Jesus-Christ, the Word of God.
Revelation 22:12,16,17 sets the final stage:
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to render to every man [g]according to
what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first
and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may
have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside
are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and
the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these
things [h]for the
churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
In Isaiah 55, the Lord alone extends an invitation to the sinner hungry and
thirsty for real spiritual bread and water because of His mercy and compassion
for His rebellious wayward children.
Now, it is at the end of the time of grace, the church age, that finally the
bride (the church) and the Lord Jesus (who is the spirit of prophecy) both in
one accord reiterate the invitation to those who hear and desire to come and
share of the heavenly banquet.
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let
the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one
who wishes take the water of life without cost.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are
written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree
of life and [i]from the
holy city, which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming
quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with [j]all. Amen.
Jean-Louis.
