God Who Pardons

Contrary to the false caricature that the almighty God is a ruthless, bloodthirsty tyrant, He is a God distinguished by mercy, compassion and love.  Because God is not comparable to anything He has created or concepts conceived in the minds of men, many have taken upon themselves to present distorted ideas of what God is like.  Unless we receive the testimony of the word of God that portrays Him in truth, we could never know Him.

Consider what the prophet concluded in Micah 7:18-20:  "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. ¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. ²⁰ You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old."  God did not create mankind to destroy them, and it is man who is responsible for destroying himself through sin--which is entirely contrary to God's goodness and righteous ways.  Man is notorious for blaming others or even God rather than humble himself and admit his faults.

Isn't it wonderful God pardons iniquity and passes over transgressions?  He is not like those who hold grudges in bitterness, for He delights in mercy.  God maintains a position of absolute power and authority and is not like weak men who are suspicious, defensive, afraid of what others think, say or do.  His mercy, forgiveness and compassion are evidence of His infinite strength and power.  Because all His judgments are in truth He keeps His word to remove and subdue sins of those who fear Him.  God has chosen to redeem sinners as His heritage and thus demonstrates His glorious majesty over all.  Psalm 130:3-4 says, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  God's forgiveness is not due to weakness but supernatural strength.