The grace of God in the Law? How can these two concepts—grace and law—go together? Is not grace the opposite of law?

Such questions reveal a common misunderstanding that is very prevalent in modern Christianity. Today, grace and law are viewed widely as mutually exclusive. It is fallaciously assumed that the God of the Old Testament was the God of Law, and that the God of the New Testament is the God of grace. Terms like “the age of grace” might to some reflect the mistaken assumption that before the cross there was no grace.

On the contrary, grace is one of God’s attributes. His grace is the same from age to age. His character is unchanged. He may manifest that grace in different ways at different times, but His eternal attribute of grace is always the same.

In fact, it was in the Law that God said, “I am gracious.” The giving of the Law of God was itself an act of grace. The context of God’s self-identification with the attribute of grace shows us something of the definition of grace itself. In the context of Exodus 22:27, the Lord revealed to Moses the necessity of kindness to the widow, the orphan, and the oppressed. He commanded that the children of Israel, if they were to borrow the outer garment of their neighbor, must give it back before sundown.

According to Exodus 22:27, “For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.” From His lofty throne in Heaven, Jehovah hears the plaintive cry of the cold, sleepy neighbor. Hearing the cry of the needy is God’s grace at work.

The Hebrew word here translated “grace” is חַנּוּן (channun) and is drawn from the verbal root חָנַן (chanan). The root verb means simply “to bend over” or “to incline.” The linguistic image is of a tent wall inclining to the ground. In His grace, the God of Heaven inclines Himself to our low estate. He bends down low to hear our cry, to see our need, and to demonstrate His grace.

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

In His grace, God bends down very low to give undeserving, helpless sinners His love, favor, kindness, and compassion. This extension of grace from God to man is not limited to the New Testament. It is found throughout the Old Testament, because grace is one of the essential and inseparable attributes of God.

God’s grace revealed to Noah

The very first appearance of the word grace in the Bible is in connection with the life of Noah. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). This comment reminds us that Noah’s favor was not earned by his righteousness; it was kindly bestowed by a gracious God. Noah was a sinner like the rest of the world, but he found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God inclined to hear Noah’s cry from among the masses of corrupt humanity, and the Lord delivered Noah and his family.

God’s grace revealed to Moses

When Jehovah gave Moses a glimpse of His glory in the cleft of the rock at Mount Sinai, God described Himself as gracious. “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). The grace that God extended to Moses was the same grace that He extended to Noah—unmerited favor that Moses did not deserve or earn in any way. Yes, the giving of the Law of God on Mount Sinai was an act of grace. Grace and law are not at all mutually exclusive but are intertwined in the gracious favor extended from God to man.

God’s grace extended to all His people

The well-known priestly blessing included a significant reference to the grace of God. Aaron and his sons were instructed by the Lord to give this verbal blessing to the people of Israel as a reminder of God’s gracious presence. “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:24–26).

God has inclined to extend His grace to undeserving sinners. We should not regard grace as a temporary manifestation of God’s favor; rather, it is an eternal attribute of God. He manifests that grace in different ways at different times in human history, but His grace is always extended to us as undeserving sinners because it flows from the very nature of the God that we serve.