Best Verse: Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.”

FORGIVENESS

Micah mentions four things God does in this verse. He pardons iniquity. He passes over our rebellious acts. He does not retain His anger. He delights in unchanging love. Let’s look at each of these.

PARDONS

He pardons iniquity. The word “pardon” means He carries or lifts. He bears the burden for our sin. Iniquity – Oh, I just love this Hebrew word. It’s the word “avon.” Yep! Avon! I just think that’s hilarious. No offense to all you Avon ladies out there. The word “avon” means our guilt or our punishment for our sins. It’s the same word used in Psalm 51:2 “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

PASSES OVER

Then Micah says God passes over our rebellious acts. The same word is used in Proverbs 19:11 “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” It does not mean God overlooks, as in ignores. It means He forgives. What are those “rebellious acts”? Our transgressions against a Holy God.

DOES NOT RETAIN

Micah goes on to say God does not retain His anger forever. Hallelujah! Aren’t you glad of that? He does not hold tight to His anger. That’s what that means. The word “retain” is the Hebrew word “chazaq” which is the same word used in Joshua when the Lord tells him to be “strong” and take courage. God does not hold on to His anger. He lets it go when He forgives us. What are you holding on to tightly? Who have you NOT forgiven? Why do you get “historical” every time you and your spouse have a “holy discussion”? Why do you keep bringing up your child’s past mistakes? Let it go! God has! Oh, and the word “anger” has the picture of nostrils flaring! I have seen people that mad.

DELIGHTS

And finally in this verse, Micah says, “He delights in unchanging love.”   Oh people, listen to this. God takes pleasure in unchanging love. Whose unchanging love? His, of course. His love never changes. He loves us always. He loves us fully. He loves us completely. Oh, and this “unchanging love” is His “checed.” It’s His loving-kindness. It’s His mercy shown to mankind. It’s His covenant keeping love.

TEACHING MOMENT

Now, if you can’t find a way to apply this to raising your children, I give up. Lol. We have the opportunity every day to pardon their sin, pass over their transgressions, not retain our anger over their disobedience and extend lovingkindness to them. When you find any of those four difficult, remember what God has done for you! Amen?