God is Merciful & Good
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever.
Psalm 100:5
Jesus said, “There is only One who is good” (Matthew 19:17), and He, of course, is God. Therefore, everything God does is good, and we are the benefactors of His goodness. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). However, our finite minds struggle to understand the infinite goodness of God.
First, we don’t really know what is good for us. What tastes good often proves to be unhealthy. What looks good may be so in appearance only. What feels good can lead us astray. Even a treacherous act, such as the one Joseph’s brothers committed, can bring about a greater good. Joseph said to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” (Genesis 50:20).
Still, when we read how God utterly destroyed the Amalekites (see 1 Samuel 15:2-3), it doesn’t seem as if His actions are consistent with His goodness. However, that view is from our limited human perspective, which may be overlooking God’s justice. If we know there is cancer in the body, the loving thing to do is cut it out. If there is a rotten apple in a barrel, the good thing to do is get rid of it. We have a small role in the larger drama of life and only see a tiny portion of the big picture God is painting.
Second, we don’t understand why bad things happen to good people. It is impossible to answer that question unless we understand that there are evil forces in this world that are actively opposing the will of God. God created Lucifer, the beautiful angel of light, to be a light bearer. Lucifer turned his back on God and became Satan, the deceiver and the accuser. God created Adam and Eve, and by their choice they lost their relationship with God, which made it possible for Satan to have dominion in this world.
Consequently, evil forces are at work in this world—forces that oppose the will of God. “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?” (Ezekiel 18:25). “’Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?’ declares the Sovereign Lord. ‘Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?’” (verse 23). God is the author of life, not death, and He is in the process of making right what His rebellious creation has made wrong. The goodness of God will overcome this present evil—if not in our lifetime, then surely in the future.
God is also merciful. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4-5). To be merciful to others is to not give them what they deserve. We deserved hell, but God was merciful and gave us eternal life. David said, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8) and “surely your goodness and love [mercy] will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
a few questions to ponder:
In what ways do our finite minds tend to struggle with the concept of God’s goodness and mercy?
How can our human perspective fail to comprehend the nature of God’s goodness and mercy?
How is God’s goodness and mercy working through His children to make right what His rebellious creation has made wrong?
Count your blessings by listing all the good things God has done for you?
To be merciful means to not give others what they deserve. How has God demonstrated His mercy to you?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.