God's mercy deep and unfathomable

At times I think I am so used to the phrase “mercy of God,” I don’t stop to think about the true scope, capacity and extension of that beautiful phrase. The mercy of God I still don’t understand because I have questions. How could God show so much mercy to people who were once so evil, deceiving and conniving? I struggle to understand. Yet, Charles Spurgeon, the 19th century English preacher, summed up God’s mercy in way that helped me grasp the vastness of God’s mercy. He wrote: “God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.” So God’s mercy never ends, never is used up.

The Apostle Paul wrote that God was rich in mercy. (Ephesians 2:3-5).

The definition of mercy related to how God views us is not getting what one deserves. It means withholding of one’s punishment. If you are like me, I have many times deserved punishment. Thoughts, acts, deeds, schemes, plans to get back at someone… even if I have not acted on them, those thoughts sure have consumed me at times. Just dwelling on those things has drained my mind and the result is I have not recognized the good things that God has done for me.

But the issue is to not focus on all that we have done, but focus on the concept of God being rich in mercy, and his capacity to show mercy.

What is the definition of rich? Rich means abundantly supplied with resources, means and of great value or worth.

Is the earth rich in water? Yes… the capacity of the earth to hold water is that two thirds of the earth’s surface is ocean.

Rainforests have a rich capacity for plant species. More than half of the world’s estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests.

But all those facts pale in comparison to God’s riches. The Bible says that God is rich in mercy.

Scripture proves it.

He has lavished his love and mercy upon us. Jesus said that he came that we might live an abundant life spiritually (John 10:10).

Jesus in his mercy died for us. (Ephesians. 2:8-10)

God is rich and abounding in mercy. (Psalm 103:8).

God is “full of compassion” (Psalm 111:4).

God is slow to anger. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” (Psalm 145:8)

His mercy is far greater than the combined oceans — washing over our sins with Jesus’ blood and forgetting our sins. His mercy is far greater than the vegetation on all the earth. These plants provide food and medicines for us but his mercy nourishes and feeds our souls. His mercy is far greater than the gold on all the earth a million times more because his mercy is eternal. God does not give us what we deserve or punishes us according to our iniquities. The Psalmist wrote: “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his mercy toward those who fear him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For he knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:10 -14)

So God’s mercy is of such worth, meaning and value that we cannot fathom it. The truth is that God’s capacity for mercy cannot be defined by earthly standards.

John Stott, theologian and writer summed up this issue of mercy. He wrote “The Gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving. The symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not the scales.”

When all of earth riches fade and are consumed, there will still be unfathomable reservoir of God’s mercy.

Judy Brandon is a Clovis resident. Contact her at:

[email protected]