“Then the LORD relented of the harm which He said He would do to His people.”
—Exodus 32:14

Reflection

For many believers today, holiness is not necessarily the first thing they think of when they think of Jesus. Instead, they associate attributes such as His love, kindness, compassion, power, or authority. And perhaps no word carries a stronger association with the New Testament than the word grace.

What is fascinating is that many people struggle to connect the God of the Old Testament with grace, just as many people struggle to connect the Jesus of the New Testament with holiness.

But God is unchanging. Regarding His relationship with man, He is the same “yesterday and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). That means the God of the Old Testament was just as filled with grace as Jesus was on the cross.

Think about it. If Jesus was the image of God, and if Jesus showed the utmost grace by reconnecting us to God even though we do not deserve it, then how is it possible for God to be any different in the Old Testament? How could He be any less filled with grace? He cannot.

We see this clearly in the life of Moses. While Moses met with God on Mount Sinai and received the Law, the Jewish people grew restless and molded a golden calf to worship. God told Moses that His wrath would burn against them because of their rebellion.

It would have been so easy for Moses to go along with God. These were indeed difficult people. But instead, Moses stepped in. He reminded God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and pleaded for the Jewish people.

Scripture then records, “The LORD relented of the harm which He said He would do to His people.”

These events created an opportunity for God’s grace to be on full display.

Moses was serving as Israel’s intercessor. He stood between them and God’s wrath, asking God to show mercy by not wiping them out. Did they deserve punishment? Most certainly. They had worshipped an idol, broken God’s commandment, and turned their hearts against Him.

Under the Law, their sin deserved punishment. And yet what prevented this punishment?

God’s grace; His undeserved, unmerited favor.

Beloved, grace did not begin in the New Testament. It flows from the unchanging nature of God Himself. The same God who is holy and righteous is also filled with mercy and grace.

Application

• Ask God to help you see His grace throughout all of Scripture, not only in the New Testament.
• Remember that God’s grace is undeserved, unmerited favor, flowing from who He has always been.

Prayer

Father, thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help me to know You as You truly are, holy and righteous, yet also full of mercy and grace. Open my eyes to see Your grace running throughout Your Word. Thank You that Your favor toward me is not something I could ever earn or deserve. Let the revelation of Your unchanging grace draw my heart closer to You. Amen.