Smart parents know that after disciplining their child, they should reaffirm their love, lest the child concludes the parent no longer cares about them. That’s a principle God wants us to know too, and He demonstrates it toward us. God promised Abraham that because of his faith, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Later, God established a covenant with certain descendants of Abraham—the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. He promised them rich blessings if they kept the terms of the covenant. Sadly, they disobeyed God and broke the covenant. As a consequence, God permitted them to pass through fiery trials to discipline them and persuade them to repent and obey. Yet in the midst of their fiery ordeal, God assured them he had not deserted them, but would preserve a remnant of those who repented and obeyed. We read this in Amos 9:11, “In that day I will restore the fallen house of David.” God promised this to assure them of his love. That’s how God is. When we break His laws but repent and obey, He forgives. God longs to forgive and restore all who repent of their sins, accept His Son, and decide to obey His will.
