Beyond Unmerited Favor: The Power of Grace
Many people mistakenly believe that grace is a New Testament concept. However, the Hebrew heart of the Bible reveals that grace—chen (חֵן)—has been flowing from the Creator since the beginning. While we often define grace simply as "unmerited favor," the Hebrew scriptures, specifically the life of Hannah, show us that chen is much deeper. It is a force that brings healing, vindication, and a seat of honor. Wow! When we simply position it as a license to remain unmoved or unchanged, we prove a lack of understanding and twist the concept completely.
Defining Chen
Mercy is the removal of punishment or the easing of suffering. But grace goes further. Grace is a gift we can neither deserve nor earn; it is an overflow of the character of Adonai. It should be treated with awe and cause us to repent, or teshuva, from the things that are not of Him.
The Hebrew phrase matza chen be-eyney Adonai (מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יהוה) literally means "to find grace in the eyes of the Lord." I think of it this way: we deserve nothing, but Adonia sees us as a treasure. We are brought into a place of safety and relief from distress through His grace. This is seen in both the story of Noah (Gen 6) and the story of Hannah (1 Samuel 2).
Noah’s name in Hebrew (נֹחַ) is a mirror image of the word for grace (חֵן). Noah was a reflection of God’s grace to his family, just as Yeshua (Jesus) reflects the Father’s grace to us. But how does this play out in the midst of suffering? For that, we can look to Hannah.
Hannah’s Cry: From Ashes to Honor
Hannah lived in a society where a woman’s worth was tied almost exclusively to her ability to bear children. Being infertile, she lived in a state of constant despair and "modern-day" bullying. Her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, mocked her relentlessly, leaving Hannah feeling dishonored, humiliated, and broken.
When Hannah prayed at the Tabernacle, she wasn't just asking for a biological miracle; she was crying out for chen.
When Adonai answered Hannah, He did more than show her mercy by removing her distress. He showed her grace. He didn't just stop the mocking; He raised her from the ashes and gave her a seat of dignity among her peers. Through the birth of Samuel, God vindicated her in the eyes of those who sought to shame her.
The Lessons of Hannah’s Grace
The story of Hannah teaches us three vital truths about the Hebrew meaning of grace:
Grace is Vindication: It isn't just about being forgiven; it is about God standing up for you in the presence of your mockers.
Grace Provides Strength: Chen provided Hannah with the internal fortitude to move from the bitterness of soul to a song of praise.
Grace is a Gift of Relationship: Just as Noah "walked with God," Hannah’s grace was found in her intimate, desperate pursuit of Adonai. We find grace in His eyes by the way we live and lean into Him.
The Ark of Grace
If you feel humiliated, overlooked, or "in the ashes" today, remember Hannah. Grace is not just a theological term; it is God’s active power to restore your honor and give you strength for the journey ahead.
How do we receive His grace today? I believe that to receive grace from God, we must first live “before His face”. It is going to sound like “earning” grace, but it's not. Living before His face is our response to who He is. It is a position we place ourselves in to receive what already is. Finding grace is merely our effort to look up and meet His gaze. We stay close to His presence, we seek His wisdom, and we pray boldly for connection. While grace is indeed a gift, we find it by aligning our lives with His heart. A relationship with a Holy God is a "mirror" effect: as we humble ourselves and walk with Him, we reflect His chen back to the world.
