Mercy Over Justice

Genesis 31:53-55

(Laban to Jacob) “The God of Abraham, and the gods of Nahor – the gods of their father – will judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.  Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal.  So they ate a meal and spent the night on the mountain.  Laban got up early in the morning, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, and blessed them.  Then Laban left to return home.

Laban and Jacob argued over Jacob’s success.  Laban thought everything Jacob owned was his, and Jacob believed God had prospered him in his own right.  Laban knew he could not touch Jacob nor force him to return, so he challenged Jacob to enter into a covenant with him to protect the rights of both parties.  They set up a mound and agreed not to cross it.  They agreed that Jacob’s God and Laban’s gods would judge between them if either of them did anything to hurt the family or its interest.  While this may seem like an honorable thing to do and a reasonable solution for Jacob in leaving Laban’s domain, it was a serious mistake for Jacob.  He unknowingly entered into a covenant to ask God to judge Rachel’s sin in stealing Laban’s idols.  This would require punishment by death. 

No one else knew Rachel had the idols, but God did.  Jacob had just asked God to judge, and God takes the whole idea of covenant very seriously.  God was now bound to judge Rachel’s sin.  While Jacob felt he had worked hard for Laban and had given his very best, what he needed at that moment was not justice but mercy.  When we feel we’ve worked hard and given our very best at a work for God, we must remember that our need is always for mercy.  God sees what we cannot see, and He knows the thoughts of man.  What we think we have earned, God sees as filthy rags.  Our need before a righteous God is always mercy and never justice. 

We are fortunate, however, in that God has entered into a new covenant with us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  He has already poured out His full wrath of indignation upon Christ at the cross.  Because of this covenant of grace, we have mercy to cover those things we do not recognize as sin.  Jacob was guilty, and so are we, but Christ has already paid the price for us!

Thank God today for the cross.  Wherever you feel slighted or wronged, realize that God sees what you cannot.  Trade justice for mercy before a just and holy God who has already made a covenant of grace to cover every sin you have.  Rejoice in His mercy, which is new every morning, and live today in the knowledge that He loves you and is working everything according to your good and His glory.

Have a blessed day!