Last week I wrote about God’s creative work, that everything He crafted by divine inspiration was declared as “good” and finally “very good” when He had finished, looking and admiring from wherever He dwells among us. This week I want to focus–very briefly–on another attribute of God, mercy.

Webster’s definition of mercy is compassion, leniency, or restraint (as in imposing punishment). In Biblical terms mercy is defined as divine protection, judgement or identity. It would take a fair amount of time and study to dig deep to unpack the Hebrew word for mercy which is racham.  Strong’s Concordance defines it as related to the word used for the ‘womb’, deep compassion and protective love. Is it fair to say that the Hebrew word gives us a very different comprehension of the word “mercy” as compared to our English interpretation? I think so.

To support how deep and protective God’s love is compared to our human abilities, we need to look no farther for evidence than what scripture shows. The first person to be granted mercy from God was Cain. Those familiar with the story know that Cain became angry at his brother Abel and killed him, actually murdered, as he gave his actions forethought, carrying them through to the end. One would think–especially when the 10 commandments are given many years later to the Israelites–that God would have served quick justice upon Cain and punished him with the death penalty. But, no. God granted Cain mercy, placing two things on the remainder of his life. First, God spoke a curse that “any one who should slay Cain, would receive a sevenfold punishment. (Genesis 4: 15)

Secondly, God placed a “mark” on Cain as a warning to anyone who might try to kill him. What exactly was the mark? Scholars don’t have a definitive answer whether it was actually a physical one or a symbolic one.

Another time in the history of God’s people where a “mark” of protection appears is in Exodus when God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorposts with lamb’s blood. When He sent a final judgement against Pharaoh of Egypt, carrying through with His warning that “every firstborn whether human or animal” would be put to death, this blood mark showed the Angel who to passover, who to spare.

Another time we read about a “mark” appears in Revelation. There are actually two different “marks” described in this book. One will be given–required–by the antichrist as a means to control people, show allegiance to him. The second “mark” will be from God, described more as a “sealing of protection” on the foreheads of His servants.

Hmmm. All the way back to Genesis we see a “mark” placed on Cain’s forehead. Fast forward to a future time period as described in Revelation where God’s “mark” will be placed on numerous foreheads. Do you think this is coincidental? I dare say not at all.

When you–or I–place our complete trust and faith in God, the creator of all, we become His children and rightful heirs of everything He desires and grants us. We learned in the creation account that we are part of His “very good” work and now we see that even when our own sin or those committed against us, mercy can be replaced by harsh punishment. This kind of relationship embodies God’s very nature as a deeply compassionate and kind of Father to His children who has an indescribable protective love!

If Cain were alive today, committing his act of murder, he’d face prosecution with a judge and jury in the room. His defense attorney is God. Both sides present their case and the jury has to decide Cain’s fate. Is he guilty? If so, what is his punishment? Will he face life in prison or be placed on death row? Thankfully, God is His defense attorney and steps in to give the verdict. Cain’s life is spared. There’s no prison time, no death sentence. In fact, there’s judgement against anyone who would try to take him out. That’s mercy in action, the kind that’s hard to comprehend perhaps. Maybe it doesn’t sound fair. 

Remember, God isn’t fair. In addition to being extremely merciful He is just.  He’s the creator of life and death. He set rules in place. He is the one who has authority to give or withhold “mercy”. I’ll take His level of protective love any day over that the world attempts to dispense. And, it’s my prayer for anyone reading this today, that you will strongly consider coming into relationship with God by accepting His ultimate plan of mercy…His plan of salvation for all mankind through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Now may be a good time to go read John 3: 16. But don’t merely read this one verse. Read the ones that come before and after, too.