Even in the midst of judgment, God is still merciful.

This statement is especially true in Exodus 11, the scripture from Sunday’s sermon on September 21, 2025, where the theme is to rest in God as judge.

God’s final judgment of Pharaoh and the Egyptians comes to fruition when He kills the firstborn of all of Egypt.

At the same time, He spares the Israelites from suffering the same fate. He shows mercy on His people.

During this time of the 10 plagues against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the Israelites wait on God and His judgment of Egypt. They also wait on His deliverance. They don’t take matters into their own hands.

Our pastor called us to rest in the assurance of God’s justice towards others, God’s mercy towards me, and God’s distinction between both.

At this time in history during the Pharaoh’s reign, as a result of the plagues, the Egyptians recognize God’s power and greatness. They give away their gold jewelry to the Israelites and beg them to leave, fearing for their own lives at the hand of God Almighty.

Just like the Israelites, we, as Christians, waited on God who was in charge of justice and vindication, and Jesus Christ satisfied God's judgment through His death on the cross.

We cannot make God show us mercy. We cannot try to take matters in our own hands and prove our worth by our own merit. We cannot earn mercy.

The Lord has shown that He is in full possession of His people and shows us mercy by His power over death.

We can remain grateful that God covers us in Jesus’ blood and now sees us as righteous in His sight.

He distinctly satisfies His mandate for justice and His desire for mercy through the death and resurrection of Christ.

And we are confident in God as the merciful judge who transforms us into the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God.

Praise be to God for both His justice and His gift of mercy.

—Ann Elizabeth Yeager