If the word kindness has never stood out to you in Scripture, then you’re just like me … up until a few days ago, when it started popping up everywhere. Don’t you just love it when the Holy Spirit shows off like that? 🙂 Here are some times in Scripture when the kindness of God is highlighted. 

God was kind when He helped Abraham’s servant find Isaac a wife. 

• Then [Abraham’s servant] knelt low, worshiped the Lord, and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld his kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” -Genesis 24:26-27

God was kind to Jacob throughout his up-and-down life journey.

• Then Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Go back to your land and to your family, and I will cause you to prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant.” -Genesis 32:9-10a

God was kind to Joseph and granted him favor in the midst of difficult circumstances.

• But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there. The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful. -Genesis 39:21-23

God was kind to David by delivering him from Saul and many other enemies.

• “He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” -1 Samuel 22:51

God was kind to Davis when he gave him a son, Solomon, to succeed him as king of Israel.

• Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.” -1 Kings 3:6

God was kind to the Israelites by offering gracious provision in the midst of their exile after they chose to disobey His commands.

• Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. -Ezra 9:9

God is kind when He gives life and protection.

• You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. -Job 10:12

God is kind to believers when He shows them compassion despite their constant rebellion and sinfulness.

• In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer. -Isaiah 54:8

God is kind when He draws people toward Himself.

• “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” -Jeremiah 31:3

God was kind to Daniel when Daniel courageously pursued purity.

• Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself. God had granted Daniel kindness and compassion from the chief eunuch. -Daniel 1:8-9

God is kind by meeting the basic needs of humankind.

• “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” -Acts 14:17

God is kind to believers by giving them the opportunity to repent. 

• Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing[b] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? -Romans 2:3-4

God is kind to believers in promising them new life with Christ.

• He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. -Ephesians 2:6-7

God is kind enough to save believers and renew us through the Holy Spirit.

• But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. -Titus 3:4-5

Wowww! Let us stop and consider the unfathomable kindness of God! What a kind God He is.

If you do a word study of kindness in Scripture, you’ll not only find these instances highlighted above where the Bible explicitly mentions God’s kindness, but you’ll also see many times when God’s kindness was wished upon someone. In addition, you’ll read about several occasions when the Bible says that someone essentially paid it forward, acting in the kindness of God. 

So although you may be first drawn to think about God’s mightiness in power and His magnificence and splendor that sets Him so far apart from us tiny humans, don’t forget that He is also kind. His kindness far surpasses any kindness you or I could extend toward others. Soak that thought in, and let His kindness wash over you with a fresh sweetness and gratitude today.