Exodus 9:5 And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land.

If we could only see things from God’s point of view, but we don’t. We see things from within our own reality. Our circumstances color our opinions and emotions. What if I were to change the phrase appointed a set time to say the time was ripe? Would you look at the circumstances of the times preceding today and see that the time is ripe for change? You would gauge the conversations, events, and see a progression which might lead to what happens next.

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Think about the people to whom Jesus spoke these words. They were subject to a ruthless Roman emperor who had littered their countryside with thousands of crucifixions. Rome showed no mercy. The time was ripe for mercy, they longed for mercy because of their circumstances. It was no wonder that they hung on every word. They wanted to know how they could obtain mercy and here was a great rabbi to teach them how.

We are all seeking something when the time is ripe in our lives to listen. It might not be mercy. We might need love. We might need identity. We might need justice. We seek that thing in our life that seems most lacking or dominating depending on our circumstance. The answer isn’t much different for each of us now as it was then.

We cannot accept one aspect of God and ignore the rest. We cannot pick and choose. “I will take mercy but stop with the justice thing, I don’t want to think about that.” It does not work that way. Jesus came and showed us all the Father was, in all His glory, love, mercy, just, righteous, healer, redeemer, and yes Savior. God is not a menu, you cannot pick and choose what fits your circumstances. If you seek mercy then you have to accept all that God is to receive it.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Because they could not accept all of Jesus.