Exodus 16:1-4  “When they journeyed from Elim, the entire company of Israelites came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their exodus from the land of Egypt. ² The entire company of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger!  ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out and gather the amount for each day, so that I may test them. Will they walk in my law or not?”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, God’s unfathomable mercy filled my heart and mind.  His long-suffering patience, mercy, and love are off the charts.  I’m grateful but awed beyond measure.

Israel watched God’s amazing miracles yet allowed their flesh and human reason to pollute their progress and prevent their attaining their purpose. God’s incredible mercy was nowhere more apparent than in the declaration found in Exodus 16:4. God told Moses that He was going to provide for them regardless of whether they kept His laws or not! That is Amazing Grace!

That Grace should make us gracious. That Mercy should cause us to be merciful. That Patience should compel us to be patient. Sadly, it does not happen too frequently.

In Luke 6, we have the life guides of Jesus called the Beatitudes. We see the Law of Harvest in what we do, including judging others and criticizing. In Luke 6:41, Jesus gives a revelation we need, but too often we fail to heed. “Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s eye, and do not see the beam in your own eye?”

We criticize and judge others, failing to look in the mirror. We openly attack others as flawed, but fail to consider that we are flawed too. Who among us is perfect? We need mercy, and to receive mercy, we must be dispensers of mercy. How grateful we are is revealed in our treatment of others.   
All judgment and criticism should be done from a position of facing God’s mirror of our own hearts and lives. What is God’s desire? Restoration! What is our desire? Self-elevation?

Verse 45 is a key.  How we treat others, view others, and judge others reveals what is truly in our hearts. The overflow of the heart reveals the true condition of the heart.

Psalm 51:10-13 is my prayer. Lord, always help us to be conscious of our own flaws and Your immeasurable grace, and make Luke 6:31 our rule of life – “Just as you want men to do to you, do to them likewise.” We are forgiven because we are flawed, so how can we not be merciful to others who are flawed?   I am overwhelmed by God’s Grace and Mercy! I am overjoyed but awed!

May your day be joyous and your vision be filled with God’s goodness!