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Grace in the Old Testament by Rabbi Mike Murphy Often it is said that the Old Testament is a book of Law, and the New Testament is a book of grace. I would like to bring forth the truth that the Old Testament is full of grace from beginning to end. First I would like to consider the fall of man. After Adam and Eve were deceived, they at first tried to cloth themselves with fig leaves (Genesis 3:7). Yet, after God had spoken to them concerning their sin, He Himself clothed them with animal skin (Genesis 3:21). This reveals God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness from the beginning of time. Even though God did show Adam and Eve grace, we too must keep in mind that there was still consequence for their disobedience in that they would eventually die physically. God also shows His grace by preserving mankind through the flood of Noah. God spared Noah and his family to repopulate the earth. God also called Abraham by His grace by bringing him out of a pagan culture and promising him a great nation and that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Well, what about Moses and the giving of the Law? When we look at this we can say that the giving of the Law was even an act of God’s grace. The Law reveals sin so that man can see his sinfulness and be convicted and be restored to proper fellowship with God. The Law also gives instruction on righteous living and reveals the perfect nature and character of God. When considering the Law of God, we can see all through the Old Testament how God showed His grace in light of the Law’s perfect standard. In Deuteronomy 27:26 it teaches that anyone who does not confirm all the words of the Law is under a curse. When looking at this, do you think that any man ever kept all the Law perfectly? Even though one might have broken it, God still revealed his gracious character. Look at king David. He committed adultery and murder and deserved to be put to death, yet God spared Him and it was through David’s line that even the Messiah Himself came. Consider even righteous Daniel. He couldn’t keep the Law’s concerning the Temple, its priesthood and sacrifice and yet he was considered a righteous man. Before the time of Daniel in Babylon the Temple had been destroyed. Well what about Esther? She was a righteous woman and she didn’t observe the Law’s concerning the Temple even while it stood in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. She was way over in Susa of the Persian empire. In Israel’s disobedience we can see God’s grace throughout their history. God had sent them many prophets to exhort the children of Israel to turn from their sins. He offered them restoration upon repentance. Even though they were carried into exile both in 722, 586 BC, and 70 AD, God still promised Israel restoration. Now, in looking at the grace of God lets consider a term I have proposed called “progressive grace.” Upon the coming of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit at Shavuot or Pentecost, there was even a “further extension” of the grace of God. That is why Ephesians 3:2 speaks of the mystery of Messiah being an administration of the grace of God. When the New Testament says that we are not under Law but under grace (Romans 6:14), the Word is not negating the Law but saying that righteousness doesn’t come by the Law. In fact, righteousness never came through the Law to begin with. Righteousness was always a matter of faith. It says in Genesis 15:6 that Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. We must also keep in mind that the Apostle Paul taught in Romans 3:31 that we don’t make void the Law through faith, but rather establish it! So we can see the grace of God throughout the Bible both the Old and New Testament. Unbelievers are under the curse of the Law and will forever be condemned by it without repentance. Yet the GRACE of God has been shown to us who believe upon Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus the Messiah who has redeemed us from the curse of the Law. Praise be to Ha Shem!
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