City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

⁸ So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. ⁹ Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” ¹⁰ And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” ¹¹ Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ ¹² Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. ¹³ And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Genesis 20:8-13 (ESV)

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

That is why I [Jonah] had to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Jonah 3:5

Reflection

We just finished with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in which God turns the cities into ash, and now God is showing mercy on Abimelech and his people? So who is God you may ask yourself. Is He a God of destruction or a God that shows mercy? Even in the case of Jonah, where Jonah refused to go to Nineveh because he knew they would repent in 760 B.C., which they did. Then a century and a half later, Nahum, the prophet, speaks about the coming destruction on Nineveh through their sins in 612 B.C.

What about in Acts 12 where Peter was spared by God and James, the son of Zebedee, was killed? Why does God spare one and save another? Eventually, all the apostles died for their beliefs except John. Yet, they were all spared death until God’s timing. Even Paul was stoned to death(they assumed he had died) but survived. Yet, the final verdict by Emperor Nero to put him to death was inescapable.

It is difficult to put God into a box when we try to fully grasp His character. It is this way because we lack two vital characteristics that God has.

1. We do not know the hearts of men as He does
2. We do not live outside of time

The mysteries of God are deep and wide. Psalm 139 gives us a glimpse into this greatness that is God.

For you formed by inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

Psalm 139:13-18 (ESV)

Application

Scholars have spent their entire lives trying to understand all aspects and characteristics of God without a fully agreed upon definition. For us, we are given the Bible and the Holy Spirit to guide us. What we see, or should see, is an amazing God who wove together such a perfect history. He lets humans, such as Abraham, make mistakes, but is there to correct the path when needed. He is a God who sent His son to die for our sins and misdeeds in order so that we can be forgiven and live with Him in eternity.

Sometimes I wonder about the character of God and think about why He did what He did. I do this out of trust and belief in His goodness. For He is good. He is just. And He is merciful. I do not know when my time on earth will end, or that of yours, but I do know that this life is temporary; and the one after, eternal.

Prayer

Father in heaven, I may not know all of who You are, but please show me more of Your character each and every day. Help me to dwell in Your goodness and love and to share Your good news of salvation to all who will hear. Let my light shine for however long You have me on this earth. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.