We know that God loves sinners, and it was through this immeasurable grace that we were saved when we ourselves were sinners. The same love that once redeemed us continues to reach out to those still far from Him. However, while God still loves the sinner, a question often arises in the hearts of His children—does He still love us?
In the Old Testament, God often displayed His power by destroying the enemies of His people, and His children praised Him for such mighty acts. But now, since He gave His Son as the atonement for the sins of the entire world, He patiently waits for sinners to repent rather than destroy them. In this age of grace, when God no longer acts in visible judgment like at the Red Sea, many of His children begin to wonder—does He still care for us, or has He turned His attention to those who have strayed?
Comprehending The Enduring Love Of God
Praise the LORD.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD
or fully declare his praise?
Blessed are those who act justly,
who always do what is right.
Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people,
come to my aid when you save them,
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
that I may share in the joy of your nation
and join your inheritance in giving praise. – Psalm 106:1-5 (NIV)
Only those who can comprehend the enduring love of God are truly able to express gratitude towards Him. When we love someone, we tend to overlook their shortcomings. Similarly, in God’s eyes, our transgressions are inconsequential given His boundless love for us. As He loved us first, our love for Him becomes unencumbered, for He is Holy. Scripture indicates that if we love Him, the struggles and hardships we encounter will ultimately work for our benefit (Romans 8:28). In this context, the enduring love of God empowers us to set aside the challenges that may seem insurmountable, directing our focus towards His love, so that God may utilize all that transpires in our lives for our good and the good of many (Genesis 5:20).
The psalmist recognized that it is beyond human capacity to articulate all of God’s actions, as they are numerous and exceed our comprehension. The expressions of gratitude and praise that we offer may constitute only a minuscule fraction of His magnificent works. Engaging in righteous deeds and acting justly does not, in itself, guarantee blessings nor serve as a means of attaining salvation; rather, it is through the grace of God and the truth contained in His Word that individuals are empowered to perform virtuous acts and uphold justice. Thus, a person is deemed blessed not by their own deeds, but through the benevolence of God. Regrettably, many individuals resort to various rites and rituals in an attempt to secure blessings from the Almighty God. Instead, one ought to aspire for the grace of God to be conferred upon them, enabling them to rightfully receive His blessings.
Somehow, the Psalmist held a confident hope that God would indeed save Him, expressing His desire for God’s strength not only for Himself but for the salvation of the entire world. With a heart full of longing, he eagerly anticipated joining the heavenly inheritance of eternal life alongside the beloved people of God, where he could joyfully praise Him forever in His glorious presence.
God’s Saving Power
He saved them from the hand of the foe;
from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
The waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them survived.
Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise. – Psalms 106:10-12 (NIV)
People seem to be in awe of how God wiped out His enemies, fearing Him for this overwhelming power of destruction, and this fear appears to be passed down through generations. Yet, believers often miss the concept of God’s unconditional love. In our current times, one might question whether we truly grasp the love embodied in the sacrifice of His own Son for our transgressions. Rather than genuinely appreciating this love, there’s a constant anxiety to seek His protection from evil doers. Perhaps if we paused to recognize His sacrificial love, we might stop approaching Him solely for safety and instead consider praising Him for for His incredible love.
God’s Power Or God’s Love
But they soon forgot what he had done
and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
In the desert they gave in to their craving;
in the wilderness they put God to the test. – Psalms 106:13-14 (NIV)
Loving God by acknowledging His mighty power tends not to endure; rather, it diminishes quite rapidly. Consequently, we may lose our patience in awaiting His guidance and become preoccupied with our own plans. We often prioritize our desires, and God, in His grace, grants those desires not to affirm our choices but to encourage us to recognize when we have strayed and need to return to Him. Regrettably, individuals frequently hold God accountable for the consequences following their choices, lacking the clarity of mind to seek reconciliation with Him. Job faced significant hardships because he initially revered God and encouraged his children to worship Him in pursuit of His protection. He reflected that what he feared had indeed come to pass, indicating that perceiving God as a furious one paves way for the devil to bring calamity and destruction. In contemporary times, individuals offer gifts to God in an attempt to appease His wrath and avoid negative repercussions. Ultimately, Job came to recognize God as his Redeemer, not due to his own merits, but as a result of God’s boundless love and grace. Loving God ensures that we remember all His deeds, and we will not forget them.
Further, the Psalmist illustrates how the Israelites rejected God, even after experiencing His salvation, only to create a calf and worship a lifeless idol instead of the living God. It is worth questioning whether their admiration for God’s powerful acts stems from genuine love or simply a fear of His punishments.
Does God Destroy People?
So he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him
to keep his wrath from destroying them. – Psalm 106:23 (NIV)
Viewing God as the one who perpetually delights in the destruction of His creations seems to stem more from our awe of His power than from any real understanding of His character. In this narrative, Moses appears as the one who desperately implores God not to annihilate the people, suggesting that God was on the brink of acting indiscriminately. This raises questions about Moses’s significance, as he is depicted as standing in the breach before God. Furthermore, is it truly noble for prayer warriors to intervene on behalf of humanity, attempting to pacify a wrathful God intent on destruction? Job recognized that no man can counsel God (Job 36:23), and he clearly learned that human intervention is futile against the intentions of God (Job 42:2). Moses once went so far as to risk his own life to save the people (Exodus 32:32), yet one must wonder: did Moses genuinely think he could advise God, and what does that really mean.
If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ‘The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness. – Numbers 14:15-16 (NIV)
In the Old Testament, we observe God’s decisive judgment upon the wicked, illustrating His will that is irrevocable. However, this serves as an opportunity for us to express love for one another and intercede on behalf of those who are suffering. In the New Testament, God’s intent shifts toward salvation rather than destruction, reflecting His desire to redeem every individual. When we advocate for those whose souls are in peril, we align ourselves with God’s purpose in exercising His redemptive power.
Our Love Is Conditional; God’s Love Is Unconditional
By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD,
and trouble came to Moses because of them;
for they rebelled against the Spirit of God,
and rash words came from Moses’ lips.
They did not destroy the peoples
as the LORD had commanded them,
but they mingled with the nations
and adopted their customs.- Psalms 106:32-35 (NIV)
Now, Moses who stood in the breach found it increasingly difficult to tolerate the contemptuous attitude of the people towards God, and harsh words subsequently emerged from his lips. As our hearts adjust in response to people’s attitudes towards God, one must ponder whether such changes have any bearing on God Himself. It is well-known that His love endures forever. The mankind has disobeyed, mingling with the nations and adopting their customs, thereby diminishing the glory of God to trivial representations of men and animals. Nevertheless, God formulated a plan for redemption even before the creation of the universe, for His unfailing love towards humanity remains constant (Isaiah 54:10). It is imperative that we exchange our anger directed at idol worshippers for the love of God.
God’s Love Changes Hostile Hearts
He caused all who held them captive
to show them mercy.
Save us, LORD our God,
and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD. – Psalm 106:46-48 (NIV)
On the final day of their slavery, God did something extraordinary. He transformed the hearts of those who had oppressed His people—those who had demanded hard labor without giving them what they deserved. When God delivered His people, He caused their captors to freely give them gold and silver. The very ones who had once enslaved them became instruments of their blessing. Having been freed from bondage, they were now able to receive even the riches of their former masters.
In the same way, as long as we remain slaves to sin, we possess nothing but the certainty of eternal death. Yet when we are set free by His grace, we become heirs of His blessings and partakers of His abundant goodness. God can change the hearts of our enemies—but will we allow Him to change our own hearts? When we surrender ourselves to His transforming love, He gathers us to Himself from wherever we are, and we become the ones who will praise Him forever.
God’s heart today calls us to remain close to Him, to understand His compassion, and to intercede for the salvation of sinners rather than their destruction.
Father God, help us to surrender completely to Your unfailing love, that we may not be left behind when You gather Your people from every corner of the world. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
Reply