Today's Reading: Exodus 34
Exodus 34:6
is a powerful reminder that God is not distant or aloof, but rather intimately
involved in the lives of His people. He is a God who loves us deeply and
desires to be in relationship with us, despite our sin and imperfection.
Earlier in
Exodus 33, God had promised to show Moses His glory, and in response, Moses
asked God to reveal Himself to him. Here, God grants Moses this request by
descending upon Mount Sinai in a cloud and proclaiming His Name and attributes
to him. The phrase "passed before him" implies that God appeared
before Moses in a visible form, perhaps in a way that Moses could perceive with
his senses.
As God
passed before Moses, He proclaimed Himself as "the LORD, the LORD" -
a repetition that emphasizes the importance of what God is about to say. The
four attributes that God then reveals about Himself are:
Merciful:
God is compassionate and forgiving, even when we don't deserve it. He shows us
mercy instead of punishing us as we deserve.
Gracious:
God is kind and generous, bestowing blessings on us that we do not deserve. He
gives us good things that we could never earn or repay.
Slow to
anger: God is patient and forbearing, not quick to become angry or wrathful. He
gives us time and space to repent and turn back to Him.
Abounding in
steadfast love and faithfulness: God's love for us is unchanging and enduring,
and He always keeps His promises. He is faithful to His covenant with His
people, even when they are faithless.
Taken
together, these attributes paint a picture of a God who is both just and
loving, holy and merciful. God's mercy and grace do not come at the expense of
His justice and holiness, but are rather expressions of His character and
nature.
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