Judges 6:6-7 KJV  And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.  (7)  And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

… and thus went the story of Gideon and the incredible demonstration of God’s loving hand of protection and deliverance over His people.

I don’t even remember what it was she ‘did’ to me, but I clearly remember standing in the back yard of our house in Burlington, greatly tempted to proclaim what I thought one of my sisters to be at that moment. Though I knew better and I’m sure had a clue that there might be something to pay for it, I finally gave in and loudly declared my sister to be (a two word phrase that describes) someone of less that full mental capacity. While my revenge was sweet for the few moments it took to state my feelings, there was someone else who observed my failure. I was quickly ushered in to the ‘room of doom’ where it was made very clear to my soul through the place that I sit down that these kinds of things would never again be spoken. What was interesting about this experience for me was my perception of my Dad during my experience of what my own actions/words brought on me. It seemed that the one who had provided and cared for me, played ball with me and taken me hunting was now severely against me. I had fallen out of his favor and now I had only frustration and anger towards him. What I came to understand, though, was that in the middle of what I saw as a severed relationship, from my father’s side there was no loss of love or care whatsoever. He just needed me to have a heart change. Though there has since been this need over and over again in my life, the change Dad was after that day was largely achieved as I don’t recall having used those words towards anyone since. What I thought to be a separation and abandonment in my relationship was never that from Dad’s standpoint. He was ever ready to do whatever would be in my best interest, even if that meant allowing my actions to have consequences.

Like Gideon, hiding away from the threats of danger in the world around him, there may be a wondering of what has happened to the God who, according to the stories, brought deliverance and the promise of abundance and freedom to His people. What is reality and what is truth, however, is that His position has never changed. He is just in need of a heart change from us and a return to Him for the favor He continually desires to bring into our life. Though the punishment may apparently be great and the risen enemy ominous, God has never forsaken, but always considers ours enemies to be his, no matter how badly we’ve transgressed. Just on the other side of obedience is an overwhelming confirmation of this truth. Until the heart change is demonstrated by complete trust and compliance, though, the perceived separation may continue. Never will His purpose be other than our completeness and restoration,, and an embrace and incredible time of fellowship awaits the son or daughter who will only rise from their self-chosen pigsty to return with repentance to a Father who has never changed in His love and desire to bless. A great victory and demonstration of His love is waiting down the road of pursuing His will and His kingdom.

Psalms 30:5 KJV  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

(3)  And, O man, the one judging those who do such things, and practice them, do you think this, that you shall escape the judgment of God?

(4)  Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Once there were three sons of a king, one of which was several years older than the other two who were twins. The first born upon completing his basic education determined that he would separate himself from the restricting life of a prince and instead live in freedom and independence. He took a large portion of his inheritance and went to a foreign land where he could not be recognized or followed. Completely disregarding and despising his heritage he lived as a degenerate, wasting his money on meaningless consumption until there was none left and he was among those asking for money on the corners and sleeping under the stars. After some time in this state of deprivation, his father by chance became aware of his whereabouts and presented this information to his remaining sons who had by this time completed graduate studies and were faithfully serving in his kingdom. He told them that he needed help with preparation of an appropriate reception for their wayward brother. Each was told to outline exactly how their brother’s treatment should be and present this plan on short notice.

Before receiving his sons’ directives for their brother, though, the king went ahead and gave specific instructions to his chief assistant that documents received from each of the twins should be carried out to the smallest detail. Instead of being executed on behalf of their older brother, though, each plan would be directed towards the one who wrote it. While the wayward son had obviously violated his wishes and despised his provision and riches, the king knew that his remaining sons, while not as overtly, had erred themselves in many ways for which they had already received his mercy and forgiveness. Prestige, honor and authority would be theirs as royalty, but the greatest lesson for them to learn would be mercy, that the measure to which they could apply mercy and forgiveness would be the measure to which they would receive it in their own times of failure. Though they had remained within their father’s favor, never having turned their back on him, to negatively judge their brother at this time would be the same as despising the forgiveness and mercy that had been extended towards them in their own shortcomings. Whether a welcome party or a rejection with punishment, whatever their plans for their brother would prove to be their own experience.

There is not one of us that by our own virtue and moral perfection are deserving of anything less than complete destruction. However, it is so wonderful to experience the incredible presence of the Lord and to know His favor and provision in countless areas of our lives. This close proximity to Him, though, is due alone to the mercy and grace of his goodness. If we’ve turned our back on any sinful activity it has only been that His incredible long-suffering has made this possible. He has been faithful to see us in Christ, though our behavior might have often stated otherwise. Now, to administer judgment on anyone that is in need of the same mercy we’ve received would be the same as despising the great treasure that’s been gifted to us at the cross. An embrace of our Father’s free gift of righteousness in Christ will have its greatest evidence in the display of mercy and forgiveness given rather than just received. The more this gift is treasured the more it will be extended towards so many others in need of it themselves. For that brother that may have turned his back on his inheritance in Christ there will ever be a place of reception, honor, love and mercy in the heart and life of the one who has truly valued their own undeserved place by the Father.