Scratch

 

How often do we find ourselves in the stories of Scripture? As we turn the pages of the greatest book ever written, characters leap out at us—not because they mirror us perfectly, but because their sins, their responses, and God’s dealings with them echo our own. There is so much to learn from how they fell, how they repented, and how God responded—sometimes in mercy, sometimes in judgment.

So, here’s my question: are we genuinely seeking understanding, or are we quick to pass judgment—accusing others while excusing ourselves? My desire isn’t to judge but to learn, and then to find the grace to apply it. And what a privilege that is: that through Christ we have been given the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). Pause on that for a moment. The Almighty God, the Righteous Judge, the Creator of the universe, has drawn near to us so intimately that we can call Him “Abba”—a child’s cry of trust, love, and dependence. This is not sentimentality; it is the fruit of Calvary. At the cross, Christ removed every barrier, silenced every accusation, and opened the way for sinners to become sons and daughters.

David was called “a man after God’s own heart.” What does that mean? God’s heart is vast—mercy, justice, holiness, love—so rich that we’ll only ever scratch the surface. But scratch we must. That’s why shallow one-liners won’t suffice. Many unbelievers dismiss God with lines like, “If God allows children to starve, I want nothing to do with Him,” or “If He’s loving, why is there suffering?” These aren’t sincere searches for truth; they’re convenient exits from accountability. Reducing the Almighty to a sound bite is easier than seeking His heart—but it is not honest.

Scripture shows a God who is unchanging in character yet relationally responsive—especially to repentance and intercession. Consider these moments:

• The Golden Calf (Exodus 32:9–14): After Israel’s idolatry, God announces judgment. Moses intercedes, and “the Lord relented from the harm” He had said He would do. Mercy met covenant faithfulness.
• Sodom (Genesis 18:22–33): Abraham pleads down from fifty to ten righteous. Though the city fell, God’s willingness to spare reveals His mercy toward the righteous.
• Nineveh (Jonah 3:4–10): From king to commoner, they repent in sackcloth, and “God relented from the disaster” He had threatened. Mercy met humility.
• Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1–6): A death sentence becomes fifteen more years when the king turns his face to the wall and weeps. “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears.”
• Kadesh Rebellion (Numbers 14:11–20): God says He will strike and disinherit; Moses appeals to God’s name and mercy. “I have pardoned according to your word,” yet consequences remain.
• David’s Census (2 Samuel 24:10–16): Judgment falls, then “the Lord relented,” saying, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.”
• Amos’s Visions (Amos 7:1–6): Twice the prophet pleads, “O Lord God, please forgive!” and twice, “the Lord relented.” Intercession matters.

Now anchor this in David’s own house. After his sin with Bathsheba, the child is condemned (2 Samuel 12:13–23). David fasts, lies on the ground, refuses food—because he knows God’s heart: “Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?” David understood that God sometimes overturns declared judgment in mercy. But when the child dies, David rises, washes, worships, and eats. He accepts God’s final word without bitterness: “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Seeking mercy is never wasted; presuming on mercy is. David does the first, never the second.

As I grow older, I look back on mistakes that still drain me to remember. Those days are gone, but I am accountable for them. How do they shape my life today? The answer isn’t in cynicism or excuses; it’s in understanding God’s heart—coming to Him with truth, repentance, and hope. He is the same God who pardoned at Moses’ plea, added years to Hezekiah, spared Nineveh, stayed the angel’s hand for David, and heeded Amos. And He is also the God who, at times, leaves a consequence in place for our good and His glory.

 

God give us all a hunger to scratch,

 

Signing off

 

Tyrone