Jer. 49, 13, 22
I still see God’s mercy, even in all of this declared disaster for the nations. Right up until the end God told His people that if they would turn from their wicked ways He would relent and spare them from the disaster. And many times, at the end of the declaration for a given nation, God would state, “But afterward I will restore the fortunes of [whichever nation]”. So the destruction was not so much to destroy as to refine. God had a plan from the start to redeem a remnant. Also, in the declaration against Edom God stated, “Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me”. (Jer 49:11). God had mercy on those who needed mercy.
It was, in fact, due to the people’s lack of mercy that God brought the destruction in the first place. How many times does God tell His people to care for those who have no means of caring for themselves? Yet they did not do this. Instead, they looked after themselves to the detriment of the helpless. We see this in His message to Josiah’s sons in Jeremiah 22. Of Josiah, God said, “He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me?” (Jer 22:16). But of his sons, God said, “But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence” (Jer 22:17). God sees and will set things right. He is more than able.
Heb. 3
Instead of referencing angels, the writer of Hebrews now specifically brings up Moses. Moses was one of, if not the greatest prophet in the history of the Jews. It was through him that God both redeemed His people from slavery and provided His law to them. So the comparison between Moses and Jesus is important. Moses represented the Law, and thus the old covenant for redemption. Jesus is God’s grace and His new covenant of redemption by faith. And the writer of Hebrews says, “For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses” (Heb 3:3a). Moses was the created; Jesus is the Creator. Moses was God’s servant; Jesus is God’s son. The old has passed away and all things are made new through Crist.