Day 1: Compassionate

When Israel first received this word from God, they deserved God’s wrath. He had just established a covenant with them, and they turned around and broke it by worshiping an idol while Moses was up on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments. Yet Moses asked God to relent from sending punishment on the people, and by grace he did.

Following this, Moses also asked that God would show him his glory. God responded by passing in front of Moses and declaring these characteristics about himself. “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation’” (Exod. 34:6–7).

If you were to describe God, what words would you use? The ancient Israelites often quoted this verse, and the first word that God used for himself was compassionate. Compassionate is the Hebrew word rakhum and is related to the Hebrew word for womb (rekhem). God’s compassion is similar to a mother’s love for her infant. It’s like when an infant cries and the mother runs, scoops up the wailing child, and cradles him in her arms. As a verb word, it means that God is “moved with compassion.” It is not just an emotional response; it’s coupled with an action to help the one in need.

This word is used throughout the Bible in many passages to convey how God cares for his people. He cares for the depressed, loves the outcast, comes near to the lonely, and is moved to action by our needs. “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate (rakhem) to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Ps. 103:13–14).

Are you struggling to believe in God’s compassion? That he sees your aging mother, your son who has walked away from the faith, or your chronically ill daughter? Does he see their struggle? When my son Barkley cut open his entire head in a sledding accident, I ran to him, cradled him, and held his head together with my hands. God, who is far more resourceful than I, hears your cries, runs to you, cradles you, and holds you. May you never forget the Lord is compassionate.