Grace Throughout the Bible

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Recommended: Definition of grace, theologically speaking

I will look at the lives of Moses, Haggai and Ester who with God’s grace overcame huge obstacles in their families, situations, and beliefs to further God’s Kingdom in amazing ways. In Philip Yancey’s Book What’s so Amazing About Grace? Yancey says that grace, “Contains the essence of the gospel as a drop of water can contain the image of the sun.” (Yancey, 12) This and God’s promise that his grace will never leave us makes grace an incredible theme throughout the Bible. Grace is an incredible thing that is defined in a variety of ways. In the book Learning About Grace from the Woman of the Bible by Debbie Morris; Morris defines grace as the “Influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.” (Morris, 6) This definition of grace is what I will be using to trace grace through the Bible. In Carol M. Bechtel’s book Life After Grace, Bechtel describes the moment after grace as “Life after grace is really life within grace” (Bechtel, X) This belief that grace never truly ends is an important factor in tracing grace through the lives of Moses, Ester and Haggai.
Moses’s overcomes his uncertainty to leads God’s people out of Egypt. In Exodus God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses’ first response is to deny his own ability. “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) However, God reassures Moses’ that with His grace Moses will be able to overcome his uncertainty. “And God said , “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you:” (Exodus 3:12) Moses is filled with God’s grace and begins his journey but again and again the need for God’s grace arises. Exodus 33:17 says “And the Lord ...

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...e broken, damaged and imperfect people. God filled them with grace, used them to grow the kingdom of God and show the world his power. In the same way that God overcame Esther, Moses and Haggai’s imperfections with grace he can do the same for us. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 says “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” God’s grace is always enough to fight the most difficult of obstacles.

Works Cited

Philip Yancey, What’s so Amazing About Grace?
Rex G. Russell,The Butterfly Effect of Grace
David E. Garland, Diana R. Garland, Flawed Families of the Bible
Carol M. Bechtel, Life After Grace
Gordon MacDonald, Rebuilding your Broken World

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