God The Father | The Father of Mercy

About this talk:

One of the recurring themes of the Bible is God’s self-revelation, first given to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” We could sum those words up by saying that he is the Father of mercy.

But with God, being merciful doesn’t come at the expense of not being just - as we might imagine we would be either one or the other in any given situation. God is, at all times, both merciful and just. So the very next words in Exodus 34 are, “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation” (v 7). Mercy and justice meet perfectly in him - see, for example, Isaiah 30:18; Hosea 2:19; Micah 6:8.

As we know, in the way he treats us mercifully, he does so by carrying out justice ultimately on his Son. So Paul writes to the Romans, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood - to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:23-26). Being merciful does not cause any contradiction with all of God’s other attributes - they are held together fully and in unison in him.

The story of the Prodigal Son is surely one of the most-loved stories Jesus told. It illustrates perfectly how merciful our Father is, yet not without cost to himself. It is the third in a series of lost and found parables - a sheep that a shepherd has lost, a coin that a woman has lost and a son that a father has ‘lost.’ In each case, finding the thing that was lost is a cause for great rejoicing - Jesus’ point being, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (vs 7,10,22-24,32).

The wayward son deserves justice - the wrath of his father. He has disgraced and insulted his father in front of the entire community. Having come to his senses, he is absolutely correct in his assessment that the best he can expect is to “go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (vs 18-19). Those who knew what the son had done would anticipate the father should shun his son and perhaps even reject his request to be treated like a hired servant.

And yet we find the father has been looking out for his son, hoping he will return; is filled with compassion 

for him; runs to greet him; embraces him openly; orders that a party be organised to celebrate his return; and restores his son to the dignity and position he previously enjoyed. It appears that the return after loss evokes in the father even greater expressions of delight in the son than he had ever known before - “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate” (vs 22-23). All the while bearing in himself the shame that the son has brought on him in the eyes of the community. This is our God, longing to be merciful, yet at great cost to himself!

Exodus 34:6-7 runs right through the Bible and expresses the heart of our merciful God (eg. Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 103:1-13; Jonah 4:2). His mercy is fully presented to us in the sending of his Son and it is no wonder the New Testament writers frequently remind us that he is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), “full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11), that his mercy is great (1 Peter 1:3).

Audio only

Life Group Activity: Experiencing the Father’s Mercy

Scripture: Luke 15:11–32

This Life Group explores the parable often called The Prodigal Son. The real focus is the Father and His extraordinary mercy toward both sons.

Opening (5 min)

Step 1: Read Luke 15:11–32 together.
Step 2: Invite three volunteers to read:

• Narrator

• Younger son

• Father / Older son

Part 1 – The Mercy of the Father (15 min)

Step 1: Notice moments of mercy

Ask the group: What moments of mercy do you notice from the Father in this story?

If needed, guide them to notice:

1. Mercy when the son demanded the inheritance

• Asking for inheritance early = “I wish you were dead.”

• The Father absorbs the shame and gives it anyway.

Discussion:

• Why do you think the Father allowed the son to take the inheritance?

• How is this God’s mercy, even when we make poor choices?

Reflection:

• Love does not force obedience

• Mercy allows freedom

• The Father does not control the son

2. Mercy when the son returns

The Father:

• Runs to meet his son (uncommon for older men at the time)

• Embraces him before a confession

• Restores him fully

Symbolic gifts:

Robe - Restoration of the family

Ring - Authority and belonging

Sandals - Son, not servant (freedom)

Discussion:

• What do these gifts tell us about the Father’s heart?

3. Mercy toward the older son

• The older son is angry and refuses to join the celebration.

• The Father responds with mercy:

  • Goes out to him

  • Listens to his complaint

  • Reassures him

Discussion:

• Why do you think Jesus includes the older son in this story?

Themes:

• Religious resentment

• Feeling owed something

• Missing the Father’s heart

Part 2 – Servants vs. Sons (10 min)

Focus on the younger son’s mindset: “Make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:18–19)

• He thinks: "If I work hard enough, maybe I can earn my way back."

• The Father treats him as a son, not a servant.

Activity: Compare the mindsets

Servant Mindset

• Earns acceptance

• Works for approval

• Fear of failure

• Relies on performance

Son Mindset

• Already accepted

• Lives from approval

• Security in relationship

• Rests in belonging

Key idea: Servants try to earn mercy; sons receive mercy.

Discussion:

• Where do you relate to God more like a servant than a son/daughter?

Part 3 – Receiving the Father’s Mercy (5–7 min)

Reflect personally:

Which character do you relate to most?

• Younger son

• Older son

• Someone still “far away”

How could you live this week as someone who has already received the Father’s mercy?

Practical examples:

• Let go of guilt

• Extend mercy to others

• Rest in God’s love

• Stop performance-based spirituality

Closing Reflection (2–3 min)

• The younger son thought he had to earn his way back.

• The older son thought he deserved more.

• The Father’s mercy is freely given to both.

Sit quietly for 30 seconds and reflect: “What is the Father inviting me to receive today?”

Optional Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank You that Your mercy is not something we earn but something we receive.
Help us to live not as servants trying to prove ourselves,
but as sons and daughters who know we are loved.
Amen.