ROMANS 9:15

“For He says to Moses, ‘I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO WHOMEVER I SHOW COMPASSION.’”

I don’t know about you, but I have certainly been the recipient of mercy and compassion at times. People who did not have to give it showed those to me. Usually, I was in a place of desperation or turmoil, and they showed up to help me. It was undeserved but certainly appreciated. Those of you have received likewise can relate.

In today’s verse Paul quotes again from the Old Testament, this time from Genesis 33:19. To get the full picture of what is happening here, you need to go read Deuteronomy 33:12-23. It’s a beautiful exchange between God and Moses. Verse 19 follows right after Moses asks to see God’s glory. This is what God said to him before He told Moses He would cover him with His hand while Moses stood in the cleft of the rock as He passed by. “And He said, ‘I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion to whom I will show compassion.’” Let’s look at the meaning of these words, “mercy” and “compassion” in today’s verse by Paul.

APPLICATION

I am going back to the Deuteronomy passage to see the original words used there. Hanan is the word translated as “mercy” by Paul. It “expresses the free, heartfelt inclination of a superior to show favor, compassion, or generosity to one in need. The emphasis lies on unearned mercy, not contractual obligation. Whenever the verb appears, the recipient stands in dependence; the giver, most frequently the Lord, acts out of His own character.” (Topical Lexicon)

And the word translated as “compassion” is an absolute beautiful word. It is the Hebrew word racham. Once again, I am quoting from the Topical Lexicon. “Racham expresses deep, tender affection that issues in concrete acts of kindness.  The term denotes far more than momentary pity; it conveys steadfast, covenant-grounded mercy that moves the heart to intervene for the helpless.” This word is “linked to rechem, ‘womb’, the verb paints a picture of the protective, nurturing compassion a mother has for an infant.”

Wow! Do you see that? It’s as if God is bending down (a superior to an inferior) and scooping us up in His arms. When I bend down to pick up my grandchildren I exhibit those traits as well. When I lend a hand to someone in need, I do the same. To whom can you show hanan and racham today? It is not beneath you to do so. God will use you to show His own hanan and racham to others. Let Him use you.

Lord, I do not deserve Your mercy and compassion, but it is certainly appreciated.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis).