In Judges chapter 2 we read of a rare occasion when the angel of the Lord visited earth, publically addressing Joshua and the nation Israel. Speaking as the Lord, He reminded Israel that it was He who had brought them out of slavery in Egypt; assuring them, I will never break my covenant with you (Judges 2:1). Powerful words of gracious faithfulness considering how unfaithful Israel had been, repeatedly disobeying God’s law and breaking His covenant with them.
To Israel’s credit on this occasion, their equally rare and immediate response was the people lifted up their voices and wept (2:4). Their tears were more than emotion, they committed to turning from sin, from complaining against the Lord, from disobedience, and from their apathy towards God. Under Joshua’s leadership of that generation, the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel (2:7). What a wonderful revival that was!
However, as is so typical of mankind, when the repentant generation had passed, the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals (Judges 2:11). Sadly, the younger generation failed to learn the importance of faithfulness to Yahweh from their parents and grandparents. While this tragic response by Israel has been repeated worldwide by all cultures down through the ages, it amplifies the Lord’s tireless grace as He continues calling sinners to repentance.
In hindsight, we see that visits by the angel of the Lord pointed forward to God’s greatest visitation to mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ. In these last days he (God) has spoken to us by his Son… (Hebrews 1:2); and we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20).
All previous Old Testament visitations paled by comparison to the Lord Jesus Christ who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature… (Hebrews 1:3). As impressive as God’s grace and faithfulness was in the Old Testament, the arrival of Jesus proved to be the ultimate expression of divine mercy. Mankind had done nothing to deserve such spectacular grace. Humanity’s murderous response to Jesus proved the world’s blind depravity towards such grace. Well, here we are 2000 years later, and the world’s attitude to Jesus has not changed. But neither has God’s determined grace and faithfulness changed.
You see, for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, although once far off, we have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace with God (Ephesians 2:13). The sin which once separated us from God has been washed away through belief that Jesus took our judgement, as our substitute on the cross. Jesus got our sin, while God gifts us with Jesus’ righteousness.
Christians have the privilege of living in the goodness of God, of knowing forgiveness, of a clear conscience from God, of eternal life, and of obedience to Jesus. Believers speak from personal experience of God’s gracious faithfulness through Jesus. Theirs is a life of gratitude, of worship, of walking with the Holy Spirit, of active life in Jesus’ church, and of using their energies for helping others to follow Jesus as they do. I pray this is true in all of our lives today.
