God’s Compassion • Messianic Teachings for Christians | Messianic Teaching

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, delivered during their last service before entering a new year, the speaker, likely Matthew Vander Els, centers on the profound attribute of God’s compassion and its practical implications for believers. The message encourages the congregation to reflect on their capacity for compassion and to strive for growth in embodying this divine characteristic in the coming year.

Understanding God’s Compassion Through Scripture

The teaching begins by exploring the nature of God as revealed in Exodus 34:6, immediately following the incident of the golden calf and the renewal of the Ten Commandments. The passage describes God as “slow to anger,” which in Hebrew is expressed through the words “Erech Afeim,” literally meaning “big nose” or “long nostrils.” This seemingly unusual description is explained as a metaphor. Just as humans who are angry might have flared nostrils as they breathe heavily to cool down, God’s “long nostrils” symbolize his patience and resilience against becoming quickly angered. This illustrates that God is not easily provoked and possesses a remarkable capacity for forbearance.

The speaker emphasizes the beauty of figurative language in the Bible, particularly metaphors, which can convey deeper meanings and create powerful imagery. Examples like “The Lord is my shepherd” paint a vivid picture of God’s care and protection, going beyond a simple statement like “The Lord takes care of you.” Similarly, describing God as a “rock” in Deuteronomy 32 highlights his perfection and steadfastness. In the New Testament, Yeshua (Jesus) is referred to as the “bread of life,” a metaphor for spiritual sustenance. The teaching cautions against a strictly literal interpretation of the Bible, noting that it contains rich metaphorical language that enhances our understanding of God.

Expanding on the theme of God’s character, the teaching delves into the Hebrew word “rachum,” found in Exodus 34:6, which is closely related to “rachim,” meaning womb. This connection reveals God’s compassion as a deeply emotional attribute, akin to the profound and unbreakable love of a mother for her child in the womb. The Bible uses various maternal depictions to illustrate God’s care, such as God comforting Jerusalem like a mother comforts her young (Isaiah), a nurturing mother teaching her infant to walk (Hosea), and even a ferocious mother bear fiercely protecting her cubs (Hosea). These diverse images underscore the depth and intensity of God’s love, mercy, and grace towards humanity.

The concept of God’s wrath is also addressed, framed not as God impulsively striking down individuals but rather as a consequence of one’s own actions and the removal of God’s protection. When individuals or nations persistently pursue sin and turn away from God, they experience the natural outcomes of their choices. Even in such instances of judgment, God’s compassion remains. As seen in Isaiah 49, when Zion feels forsaken, God responds with the powerful analogy of a mother’s unwavering love for her baby, assuring that even if a mother could forget, God will not.

Compassion as Empathy and Action

Compassion is defined as coming alongside someone who is suffering, sharing in their emotion. It is closely linked to empathy, which requires a deeper understanding of another person’s experiences, motivations, and circumstances. Empathy is challenging because it necessitates acknowledging the shared humanity and inherent worth of others, even those we might be inclined to judge or label. It is easier to dehumanize others and make quick judgments, but true compassion calls for seeing others as fellow human beings loved by God.

The teaching highlights that it is “hard to hate someone up close” because when we truly connect with others, we recognize their shared humanity, feelings, and struggles. Developing empathy, even for enemies, involves the willingness to understand why they act as they do. This understanding does not excuse harmful behavior but can transform our perspective and enable us to respond with God’s love, mercy, and grace. The example of a man who exhibited aggressive behavior due to his lack of compassion in his childhood foster care experiences illustrates how past wounds can shape present actions and emphasizes the importance of seeking to understand others’ stories.

God’s compassion is likened to the love of a parent for an infant – an unconditional love that recognizes inherent worth despite any annoying or even bad behavior. Believers, as representatives of God, are called to reflect this same level of compassion towards all people.

The Danger of Judgment and the Call to Maturity

The speaker critiques the tendency of some religious individuals to judge others and exploit them while claiming to act in God’s name. The only group Yeshua consistently condemned were the religious leaders who prioritized their own self-righteousness and benefit over genuine love and compassion. This serves as a warning against using faith as a tool for self-aggrandizement and judgment.

The teaching uses the example of NFL player Reggie White to illustrate the journey of maturing in faith. Initially known for his bold pronouncements and judgments made in the name of God, Reggie later came to realize that he was often acting based on external expectations rather than truly hearing God’s voice. His deeper study of the Hebrew scriptures led him to a place of greater humility and a focus on living a life that reflected God’s character rather than just making pronouncements. He recognized the danger of using scripture as a “sword” to condemn others instead of to defeat the lies of Satan.

Reggie’s story highlights the difference between immature and mature faith. An immature believer might use scripture to judge others based on specific interpretations, while a mature believer approaches scripture with the understanding of human fallibility and the overarching principles of compassion and grace. True maturity involves seeing the world through the lens of the cross, recognizing God’s love for all humanity, and making judgment reluctant.

The message concludes with a call for believers to continue maturing in their faith in the coming year. This involves actively choosing love, grace, and compassion, even when it is challenging. It encourages breaking down unnecessary boundaries that divide people and committing to a level of compassion that might make those focused on judgment feel uncomfortable.

Application for Everyday Life

• Practice Empathy: Actively try to understand others’ perspectives, even those you disagree with.
• Resist Judgment: Be mindful of the ease with which we judge others. Remember that everyone is created in God’s image and loved by God.
• Extend Compassion: Make a conscious effort to come alongside those who are suffering, offering support and understanding.
• Seek Understanding: Instead of immediately making assumptions, try to learn the stories of others.
• Reflect God’s Patience: Remember that God is slow to anger. Practice patience with others and yourself.
• Embrace Figurative Language: Recognize the richness of metaphor in scripture and allow it to deepen your understanding of God’s character.
• Focus on Living, Not Just Speaking: Emulate Reggie White’s later realization that living a life of faith is more impactful than simply making bold pronouncements.
• Continuously Mature in Faith: Be open to growth and challenge your own assumptions and biases.
• Love Your Enemies: Practice empathy and try to understand even those who oppose you.
• Break Down Dividing Boundaries: Actively work to overcome barriers that separate people and foster unity through love and compassion.

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