83. Pardon
Numbers 14:19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word.
Moses asks the Lord for pardon for the people as he intercedes for them. And the Lord does pardon. He did pardon. And He will pardon. However, that generation was still denied entry into the Promised Land, though their sin and rebellion and disbelief were forgiven. The Lord promises to do the same for us, pardon.
The Lord will pardon our iniquity according to the greatness of His mercy. God’s mercy is truly great; it is longer and wider and deeper and higher than we can comprehend. Moses pleads for pardon on the basis of God’s great mercy. It is not earned or merited, and it certainly isn’t fair. God promises to pardon us according to the greatness of His mercy. He has forgiven in the past, and such mercy continues into the future.
Pardon means, “It never happened.” Justified means “just-if-I’d never sinned.” Forgiveness means, “I forgot.” This is how God regards us, and our sins, in Christ. Outside of Christ, however, there is no forgiveness, no mercy, no pardon, no life, and no hope. The grace, mercy and love of God for sinners caused Him to send the Son into the world and give Him over to death to earn forgiveness and mercy for all.
The Lord answered Moses, “I have pardoned according to thy word.” God listened to Moses and answered His prayer. We don’t know if the Lord would have forgiven the people without Moses’ intercession, but we do know for sure that He did pardon them after Moses prayed for their forgiveness. And the same promise will result from our prayers for the forgiveness of others who “trespass against us.” Life and peace flows on the river of forgiveness. So the Lord promises.