What God has Done!

When we moved into our house, we were tasked to point out flaws in craftsmanship with painter's tape to be repaired by the builder.  For months the blue tape had become familiar decor, signposts and reminders of flaws all around.  Since our builder has "done a runner" (as we say in Australia) and will not be back to rectify the blemishes in the walls and paint, this morning I went throughout the house and removed all the tape.  I can't tell you how much better things look without those attention-grabbing bits of tape.  There are actually more blemishes now, seeing as the tape removed some poorly adhered paint, but the eye is not drawn to the defects as before.

As I picked the tape off the walls, ceiling and woodwork, it provided insight of our tendency as humans to find faults in ourselves and draw attention to them.  There is no question we all have our faults and one common to man is to look for flaws and focus on them.  Our power to see and perceive is a blessing but we can turn it into a curse.  The irony is we are drawn notice the flaws of others because we are flawed ourselves, for we do not need to be perfect to find fault.  All is faulty before the holy, righteous God who chooses to bless instead of curse:  He gives grace and justly imputes righteousness to those who trust Him.

Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel, but all he could do was bless God's people.  These people at times had sin in the camp, yet God's view of them was most favourable.  Balaam announced in Numbers 23:20-23, "Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. ²¹ "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them. ²² God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox. ²³ "For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'Oh, what God has done!'"  What favour God had shown His people!  What grace, that God would dwell among His people and not focus on their faults because their sin was covered by an atoning sacrifice.

Like my eyes are drawn to blemishes in building, so our eyes can be drawn to focus on our own faults and those of others.  Those who cover their sin shall not prosper, and neither is it profitable to judge others critically without God's grace.  Freely we have received God's grace, and freely we should give it.  Take the tape off the walls, and remove the fault-finding blinders from our eyes which are common to men.  It is not that people are perfect but we do so because our great God is perfect and has beauty beyond this world who loves, accepts and forgives us by His grace.  In light of poor workmanship we could ask those who painted our house, "What did you do?"  We are far better served to dwell on "What God has done!" with praise to Him.