Do you become upset when you make mistakes? Do you berate yourself when the mistake could have been avoided? Do you live with regrets? Do you believe that you are too flawed to receive God’s blessings? Great news! You are human!
Flawed means to be blemished, damaged, imperfect in some way or having a sudden weakness in character. Though there are times when our thinking is flawed, God does not see us as flawed, because we were created in His image.
Mortals will never be perfect. We are incapable of always making right decisions and choices, because the flesh demands its way. But, be not discouraged because Scripture reveals many who were redeemed after having a sudden weakness in character due to carnal thinking that opposed God’s will and purposes. So, let us begin with Abraham who was called the “father of all nations.”
Abraham had human failings and doubts as we do. One of his failings was not to trust God when he entered Egypt with his beautiful wife, Sarai. He feared for his life when Pharaoh wanted to take her as his wife. So, Abraham convinced Sarai to lie to Pharaoh and tell him that he was her brother (albeit half-brother) (Genesis 12:22). Eventually the truth was revealed when Pharaoh and his house were afflicted with plagues.
Later, we read that Sarai, who was barren, convinced Abraham to produce an heir through Hagar, Sarai’s Egyptian maidservant. Ismael was born from which the Arab nations came. Twenty-five years would pass before God’s promise of an heir through Abraham’s union with Sarai would produce God’s promised heir—Isaac.
Years later, Abraham was at a different level of faith when God asked him to sacrifice the promised heir, Isaac. His trust and obedience caused God to spare Isaac and fulfill His Word to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him (Galatians 3:29; 3:7-9).
Moses was called by God to lead His people out of Egypt’s bondage and into the promised land. But when they were trapped at the edge of the Red Sea they bitterly complained that they had been better off in Egypt. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel to go forward. Lift your rod up and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea” (Exodus 14:15-16). Moses’ obedience provided safe passage and the drowning of Pharoah and his army. However, we also see Moses’ disobedience.
The children of Israel cried out to Moses for water, so God told Moses, “Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus, you shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their animals” (Numbers 10:9). So, Moses, in his anger and frustration with the people, took the rod and struck the rock twice and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
The Lord then spoke to Moses and Aaron, “You did not believe Me, to [honor] Me in the eyes of the children of Israel; therefore, you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 10:7-12). Moses’ disobedience denied him the privilege of entering the promised land with God’s people. However, we see him reinstated when he appears with Jesus and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9; Matthew 17; Mark 9).
Why was God angry with Moses? The rock symbolized God’s strength and Jesus who is the Rock of salvation. And the water that flowed from that rock, symbolized eternal life. Jesus would suffer and die only once for humanity. Moses’ act of anger and frustration was a direct attack on the Savior to come. God demands trust and obedience. Although Moses was a godly man, chosen by God to do His work, Moses’ carnal nature had driven him to disobedience.
David was called a man after God’s own heart because he had complete trust and faith in God. His great faith allowed him to slay Goliath and to kill the lion and the bear. He surrendered total control of his life to God, believing that He would deliver him from dangers, even in battle. Unfortunately, David, being human, allowed himself to give into temptation and bring the beautiful and desirable Bathsheba to his bed. She became pregnant. To hide their sin, David arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed on the battlefield. Later, they lost that child and David, deeply grieved over his sin and loss, repented and God restored him.
One day, while Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, scribes and Pharisees brought forth a woman who had been caught in adultery (John 7:53-8:11). The men hoped to trap Jesus according to their law that required stoning (Deuteronomy 22:22). The Roman law did not condone stoning except for capital punishment. To avoid their legalistic trap, Jesus bent down and traced His finger in the sand. He finally stood and said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).
Jesus had revealed the evil intentions of the accusers’ hearts as each left, leaving Jesus and the woman alone. Jesus then asked, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, ‘No man, Lord.’ And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:9-11).
Peter, who loved Jesus, said he would never deny Him. Yet when faced with losing his life, he denied knowing Jesus three times. Following Jesus’ resurrection, His love and compassion for Peter, moved Him to send an angel to the tomb to tell the women, “…go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you” (Mark 16:7). Then upon seeing Peter, Jesus gave him three opportunities to redeem himself by answering three questions that corresponded with Peter’s three denials. Jesus extended mercy, grace, compassion, and forgiveness to Peter who was deeply grieved by what he had done.
These are only a few examples of flawed humans found in Scripture and God’s gift of redemption, forgiveness, and restoration. Jesus knows our frailties and yet He is more than willing to extend forgiveness and renewal to those who repent and allow God’s Word to direct their life. Fortunately, God understands that we make mistakes and will continue to make them while we are earthbound. Therefore, we must extend grace to ourselves and to others, realizing that we are imperfect and will never become flawless in this life.
God’s standards oppose the world standards that allow a person to define their own personal truths. When we exchange biblical truths for the world’s false narratives, we become very vulnerable to the sins of disobedience and doubt. The hope offered through these examples is that though our thinking and choices can be flawed, Jesus sees us as valued, loved, and redeemable.
PRAYER: FATHER, I am so grateful that You do not expect perfection from me. I know that I will make mistakes, so I ask that You show me the error of my ways, so that I can quickly repent and follow You with intentionality and purpose. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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