Most parents know what it's like to forgive even before the gravity of the offense is known. Your child comes to you and tearfully confesses, "I've done something awful. I can't believe I was so stupid! Will you forgive me?" The child is so choked up he or she can hardly speak.
What do you do? Grab the whip? Bark out a reprimand? Announce a two-week grounding starting immediately? No! Every loving parent embraces the weeping child, pats him or her on the back and whispers, "Whatever it is, we'll get through it. There's nothing you've done that can keep me from loving you. I'll stand by you. Now what is it?"
The youngster chokes back the tears, blurts out the offense, and sobs again saying, "I'm so sorry! I know better and I don't know why I did it! I've embarrassed you and our family. Please forgive me!"
Then you reach for the whip! NO! No matter how disappointed or how hurt you are, you still somehow manage to forgive. Naturally you ask questions. You try to understand why the wrong behavior took place. There may be needed discipline and consequences, but you want to forgive. In fact you're anxious to forgive and assure your child that everything is going to be okay.
Your reaction to that repentant son or daughter is so much softer than if you had discovered a forbidden item in your child's room and he or she was defiant and deceptive when confronted. A repentant, contrite spirit encourages a response of mercy and compassion.
God is a more compassionate father than any of us. When we humbly come to him and openly confess our sins he is anxious to forgive. King David wrote, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).
The prophet Joel warned the nation of Judah that God's judgment was coming on them because of their continued transgressions. While God is a compassionate Father, he is not a doting one. When His children wander away, he loves them too much not to chasten them to bring them back. The prophet Joel predicted a disastrous plague of locusts and a severe famine because of their spiritual defiance.
Joel urged the wayward nation to humbly confess their sin to God and perhaps escape the impending calamity. The Living Bible paraphrases Joel 2:13-15, "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered; he is full of kindness and anxious not to punish you. Who knows? Perhaps even yet he will decide to let you alone and give you a blessing instead of his terrible curse. "
That did happen to the city of Nineveh. When they were warned that God was fed up with their wickedness and Nineveh was going to be destroyed within 40 days, the people -- from the king to the commoner -- repented. They pleaded that God would grant them mercy and stay his judgement. And God was anxious to forgive and give them a reprieve.
Jesus underscored that same eagerness to forgive in the story of the prodigal son. The father ran to embrace his son even before the young man could blurt out his apology. The father had a new garment on the son's back, new shoes on his feet, and a big party planned even before the son confessed how much he had sinned.
The prophet Joel called upon everyone to repent: the old and the young (1:2-3), the drunkards (1:5), the farmers (1:11) and the priests (1:13) before it was too late. He pleaded, "That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me all your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, mourning'" (Joel 2:12 paraphrase).
Joel knew the heart of the heavenly father. God would forgive and restore his blessing if they repented now. Sadly, Judah ignored Joel's warning and a massive plague of locusts along with a serious drought devastated the land of Judah.
America -- are we listening?
Bob Russell is the senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky. He is the author of 15 books including "When God Builds a Church" and "When God Answers Prayer."
