Grace to Tobit

Synopsis     Tobit 12:7-13:2     9/25/2020 

When Tobit sent Tobiah to Rages to collect money, the angel Raphael posed as a near kinsmen. He claimed to be a man named Azariah. So, throughout his travel with Tobiah, this is what he was called. 

However, when the journey was complete, Tobit and Tobiah agreed that they should pay a generous bonus. So, they offered Raphael half of the money they had collected.  

After they made the offer, Raphael revealed himself as one of the seven archangels. This called the two men to fall down in fear. But Raphael assured them that they were in no danger. And he let them know that it wasn’t his goodness, but the grace of God that caused their good fortune.  

Grace to Tobit 

Tobit cultivated God’s grace because of his willingness to bless the other Israelite exiles. He was faithful even when it nearly cost him his life.  

Grace 

It true that we don’t earn God’s grace. Grace, by it’s very definition, is never an equal transaction. I can’t go to God and say, “I did this good thing, now you must give me some good thing in return”. God is never indebted.  

In fact, it’s probably safe to say that everything is grace. My life is an underserved gift. My relationships are undeserved gifts. The sun on my back is an underserved gift.  

All I can really do is respond with gratitude for all of His goodness and His generous grace into my life.  

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ^* (by grace you have been saved)” Eph 2:4-5