Faith and Love
When we read throughout the Old Testament, we find instances where the leaders God chose would sometimes ask Him to have mercy on their people. We find it with Moses in the desert when God was angry with the disobedience of the children of Israel. Exodus 32:11-12 “Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people.” Moses actually pleaded for the people, asking God not to punish them. This demonstrated how much he loved them; enough to stand up for them before God. God then relented from the harm He had planned.
David also had a great love for his people. He also defended His people before God. 2 Samuel 24:17 “When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.” David had taken a census of the people and because of it the people were being punished by a plague. After David made offerings to the Lord, He ended the plague.
Throughout the New Testament we are told of the importance of love. We are instructed to love even our enemies. God will use those who are able to love others. Those who are willing to forgive and treat others as they would wish to be treated. Today we are under grace and God’s mercies are new every morning. We have a mediator between man and God, Christ Jesus. Having experienced what it is to live in the flesh, He is our advocate with the Father. Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.”
These two things God requires of us…that we live by faith and walk in love towards others.