1207 The God Who Trains, The God Who Shows Mercy (Deuteronomy 8:1–10)

When we read the Bible, we sometimes feel less connected to the Old Testament compared to the New Testament. There are two reasons for this. One is the idea that the Old Testament recounts events that happened thousands of years ago—a distant past. The other is that the content of the Old Testament is the history of the Israelite nation, which can feel remote. However, God’s character and the sinful nature of humanity remain the same, whether in Old Testament times or today. Furthermore, the history of Israel in the Old Testament is not merely the history of one nation but can be directly applied to the faith journey of believers today—their disobedience and failures, their successes and blessings. The lessons from the Exodus process and numerous trials are also applicable to our personal lives. Through this, we can learn and apply what is written about who God is and what a life of faith entails. We should draw near not only to the New Testament but also to the Old Testament scriptures, reading them frequently.

God’s essence is love. He loves us. Yet love can be gentle or strong. Strong love manifests as training. Training is a process of discipline to mold us into obedience to God’s will, a corrective process aimed at producing certain outcomes. At times, it involves strong rebuke and discipline. On the other hand, gentle love is God’s mercy. Mercy is love shown despite our faults—forgiveness, grace, unconditional love itself. Though these two concepts seem opposite, they are God’s way of shaping and refining us as His people. We may prefer a God who constantly forgives and shows mercy, but God balances both. Thus, the lessons given to Israel can also be well applied to us. This application can greatly aid the growth of our faith.

1. The God Who Trains

1) Ultimately, people must learn through repetition and experiences of failure.

Deuteronomy is a message given just before entering the land of Canaan. Initially, when the Israelites were liberated from Egypt, they rejoiced greatly and held onto hope, but as difficulties arose, that hope gradually faded. They came to realize that it was not merely about physically entering Canaan but about becoming people who live as God’s people. Deuteronomy means “second law” or “repeated law.” At this point, on the verge of entering Canaan, God’s Word is being emphasized once again. Knowing something does not necessarily translate into obedience. Training in the Word requires repetition because people tend to repeat the same mistakes and easily forget. Therefore, repetition is necessary to engrave it deeply into our bones so that we do not forget.

2) The need for training arises from the depth of sin. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. Why such a long time? More than anything else, it was because they were spiritually unprepared to enter Canaan. In the wilderness, they had to learn humility and obedience through trials. The reason training must be intense is due to the depth of human sinfulness and stubbornness. “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart” (verse 2). Human sinfulness and stubbornness are not trivial. The essence of training is to humble and test us so that what is hidden in our hearts may be revealed, as it is not apparent on the surface. There is a parable of a potter: when pottery is made, it may look good outwardly, but when held up to the light, fine cracks or flaws become visible. The potter cannot release it as a finished product, so he breaks it. God does not look superficially; He examines closely. He knows everything. Just as hidden flaws are revealed under sunlight, we must be able to see the cracks of our sinfulness and stubbornness through the mirror of God’s Word. However, people who already strive to live according to the Word feel convicted when their hidden flaws are revealed and seek repentance and change, while those who truly need change tend not to listen as if it does not apply to them. It is like how slender people who don’t really need to exercise run in the morning and work out diligently, while those who are closer to obesity and need to exercise tend to sleep and lie around. The reason sin’s roots run deep is that, no matter how intense the training, if the heart remains hardened, there is no change through repentance. Revelation 16 describes the seven bowl judgments of wrath, where people are in such agony that they gnaw their tongues, yet they still refuse to repent. Nevertheless, God calls for repentance until the end. Let us remember that before God, we are like clay. Soft clay can be molded into any shape, but hardened clay is not easily shaped. Through training, God desires to mold us into people who resemble the Lord.

3) Become someone who grows through training. Ultimately, training is necessary. Even receiving training is God’s grace. The intention of training is “to teach that people do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (verse 3). This presents two contrasting ways of life: those who seek to obtain and satisfy their needs on their own will inevitably grow weary and remain stagnant, while those who acknowledge their shortcomings and sinfulness and humbly depend on God for everything will overcome difficult situations and attain eternal life. Through training, may our faith grow, enabling us to participate in God’s life.

2. The God Who Shows Mercy

1) He shows mercy even in extreme situations.

God trains us, but at the same time, He provides many miracles and mercy to help us endure that training. Remember the mercy in the wilderness: He supplied manna, providing daily sustenance. This was God’s mercy in the wilderness. For forty years, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell (verse 4). The phrase "their clothes did not wear out" does not mean they wore the same set of clothes but rather that God abundantly supplied materials so they could make new garments. The fact that their feet did not swell shows that God did not lead them in a way that was overly burdensome or beyond their ability. Even in the extreme situation of the wilderness, He continuously showed them mercy. Verse 6 says, “Fear the Lord your God,” and verse 7 explains why: “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land.” God is the One who shows mercy and leads us through the wilderness to give us a good land.

Great blessings and grace are already prepared for us. We must remember God’s mercy and offer praise and thanksgiving. Some testify that gratitude saved them, sharing experiences of how developing a habit of gratitude in difficult situations brought healing and great strength. To experience this Advent season with grace, we should make it a time of thanksgiving. Let us cultivate a habit of thanking God, who provides and shows mercy even in extreme situations.

2) God’s mercy means that one failure is not the end; it offers opportunities for restoration and growth.

We can experience God’s mercy more deeply in times of failure and despair than in times of success. During their time in the wilderness, the Israelites committed many acts of disobedience. Some sins were so great that they brought severe consequences. Yet, God’s mercy patiently gave them opportunities for restoration. In audition programs, participants are often eliminated in competitive rounds. However, judges sometimes have a special authority to save a participant on the brink of elimination—a "super save." This gives the person in danger a precious second chance.

God’s mercy is like a super save. One failure is not the end; He gives us opportunities for restoration. If we were to be eliminated and given up on after one result or one opportunity, it would be difficult for us to become God’s people. The reason we can walk the path of training and the wilderness journey is that God continuously shows us mercy. That is grace. Showing mercy is a common attribute of the Triune God. God shows mercy; mercy is His nature. Jesus Christ, in His compassion, died on the cross for us. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. When we walk through the wilderness or face difficulties in life, our hearts need not be overwhelmed because God’s grace and mercy sustain us. Therefore, the more we struggle and grow weary, the more we must cling to grace and become proclaimers of the gospel: “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”

Conclusion
Training and mercy are two ways in which God guides us. Just as He led Israel in the wilderness through both training and mercy, He guides our lives today in the same manner. He is the God who trains us and the God who shows us mercy. It is not a matter of which is better or worse—both are grace to us. Training is grace, and mercy is grace. God guides our lives with this twofold grace.

Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we cannot foresee the future as we journey through our own "wilderness." It may feel daunting, and at times painful. Yet, we must remember that even the wilderness is part of God’s good plan. He leads us according to His will and in the direction He desires. Sometimes He guides through training, and at other times through mercy. When we trust in His guidance and rely completely on Him, we will grow and experience the blessings and grace of being God’s people.