It is sometimes erroneously assumed that the God of the Old Testament is a God of judgment and that the God of the New Testament is a God of mercy. However, it is in the Old Testament that the mercy of God is first revealed to undeserving sinners. None of God’s eternal attributes can ever contradict one another, so God’s justice and wrath against sin can only be understood in the context of His mercy.

Numerous times in the psalms we are reminded that “his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 136 repeats this phrase in every single verse! Even in the midst of His wrath, the prophet appeals to God: “in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2). In fact, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ justice and mercy come together. The justice of the Father was fully satisfied as He poured out His wrath upon the Son in order that He might have mercy upon us.

We have already considered the grace of God; now let us consider His mercy. As discussed earlier, God’s grace has sometimes been distinguished from His mercy in this helpful and memorable way:

Mercy: God not giving us what we do deserve = withholding wrath

Grace: God giving us what we do not deserve = extending favor

The Hebrew word most often translated “mercy” is חֶסֶד (hesed). It is sometimes rendered into English as “lovingkindness” because there is no single English word that can adequately convey the full semantic range of the Hebrew word. Hesed is love. Hesed is kindness. Hesed is goodness. Hesed is mercy. Hesed is the fulfilment of a loving covenant promise.

There are many implications of God’s mercy in the context of His Son and our redemption. Other important Hebrew and Greek words also convey the fullness of God’s mercy. Let’s focus upon the revelation of God’s חֶסֶד (hesed) in the writings of the Torah. Even in the Law, we find the manifold mercy of God!

God’s mercy upon Lot

The very first appearance of the word mercy in the Bible is in connection with the life of Lot. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot acknowledged Jehovah’s mercy upon him and his daughters: “thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life” (Genesis 19:19). Lot recognized that he and his family deserved God’s righteous judgment, but that the Lord had spared them in His mercy.

God’s mercy upon Abraham

When Abraham’s servant met Rebekah at the well and saw his prayer to God answered by her offering to draw water for the camels, he exclaimed, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren” (Genesis 24:27). God is not only merciful to withhold wrath, He is also merciful to lead our steps in the way that we ought to go.

God’s mercy upon Jacob

Jacob was a conniving, deceitful sinner who sought God’s blessing through his own selfish, dishonorable means. Jacob lied to his father. He deceived his father-in-law. He lived by his cunning and craftiness. Jacob neglected fulfilling the solemn vow he made at Bethel. Upon coming back into the Land of Promise after many years of wandering, Jacob acknowledged, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant” (Genesis 32:10). Each one of us must also, if we are honest, acknowledge that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.

God’s mercy upon Joseph

Joseph experienced much cruelty and hatred during his youth. He was despised by his brothers. He was sold into slavery. He was falsely accused by his master’s wife and cast into prison. Yet, in this darkest period, according to Genesis 39:21, “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy.” This verse testifies that even when we are innocent, God still shows us mercy! God had mercy not only on Lot, but He also had mercy upon Joseph. We all inherit the fallen sin nature of Adam, and we all stand in need of the mercy of God.

God’s mercy upon the children of Israel

During the years of wandering in the wilderness, God manifested His mercy upon His chosen people on countless occasions. When they thirsted, He provided water. When they sinned through murmuring, He spared them. When the Israelites worshipped a golden calf, He forgave them. When they hungered, He provided manna and quail. When they feared the Egyptian army, He swallowed up the armies of Pharaoh in the Red Sea. At this miraculous protection from God’s hand, the people sang the Song of Moses while at the Red Sea, proclaiming, “Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. (Exodus 15:13).

Each one of these examples are from the Torah and use the Hebrew word חֶסֶד (hesed). God’s mercy is a covenant mercy. It is a mercy of promise. God has mercy upon us because He has redeemed us. His mercy is not merely a transitory feeling or a passing moment of pity. Rather, it is an eternal attribute of our God. He is merciful, and “his mercy endureth forever.”