RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day seven) God is great. God is good. Teaching children this prayer shapes their minds in a positive and powerful way. These words are a simple statement of brilliant theology. Great is a word that means “big”. God is huge, vast. Think size. Good refers to moral value. God is kind, benevolent and fair. After 13 weeks of prophetic instruction, it is good to be reminded that there is a beautiful balance within the Father’s heart. “The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations” (Numbers 14:18) How can anyone possibly be both? Some are big but not kind. (power makes them harsh) Others are kind but weak. (they want to help but cannot) Only God is both great and good. Happy Sunday, everyone!
I definitely agree that power often makes “leaders” unkind. How amazing, however, that the passage you quote in Numbers is the leader Moses pleading for his people..
(He said to God…)17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘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.’ 19 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.”
20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked (they had an intercessor!). 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times — 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors.”
That is the kind of leader this nation/our churches need. May God hear the outcry of those who seek justice…. who cry out for true Godly leadership all throughout this land.
I firmly believe that there IS a New Covenant…. and it is different/better than the Old, but have been around long enough to know we do not all see it that way. However, Moses was, of course, quoting Exodus 20 (Ten Commandments) and the verse is actually a beautiful promise of God’s love/faithfulness….”3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Yet, in Ezekiel 18, the Word says, “The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.”
This (even under the Old Covenant) along with many, many verses in the NT would clearly point out that there is more to this whole issue than would be conveyed just by simply pulling one verse out of context.
May our message be the Gospel: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16