Exodus 25: 17, 22
And you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim.
God directed Moses to make an ark which was a box about 3 ¾ feet long by 2 ¼ feet wide. Within the ark God had Moses place the tablets upon which the law was written along with some manna and Aaron’s staff. A top was made for the ark. That lid is called the mercy seat or some translations call it the atonement cover. Both names convey God’s intent to show His people mercy.
Many people think that the God of the Old Testament was a vengeful, angry God but look at His kind, tender mercy here. He covered the law with the mercy seat. Not only that but also bear in mind that God told Moses that they would meet above the mercy seat between the two cherubim. God didn’t tell Moses to take out the tablets of the law and hold them up in order to meet with Him. No, He, instead, showed Moses a picture of the grace He longed to shower on His people.
Whenever you read the Old Testament you should constantly tell yourself that you are under a much better covenant enacted on much better promises (Hebrews 8: 6) and sealed in the blood and testimony of the Messiah Himself. Nonetheless, how can one not be blessed by seeing that even in the Old Testament, even in the desert when the Israelites were sorely trying His patience He covered the law with mercy? And whenever He met with Moses they were both constantly put in remembrance of His great mercy. God put mercy above the law. He never wanted to give His people law or a king other than Jesus but we have proved to be a rebellious and stubborn species. God’s great love has consistently been poured out upon us anyway.
God’s hands always were full of love, charity and mercy and are so even to this day. The law will always lead to bondage but the love of God always brings deliverance. There is no chain on you that the mercy of love cannot break. Receive His mercy today and know that He loves you.
