Yesterday’s blog article and YouTube video covered a portion of one of the most important passages in the Bible. This is part 2 of the study in Exodus 34.
I recommend that you examine the description of the words we analyze. Then, return to the Bible passage and use it as a method to worship and connect better with the Lord.
The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name, “The Lord.”
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord,
a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
“Keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
“Yet by no means clearing the guilty,
but visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
and the children’s children
to the third and the fourth generation.”
And Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped. (Exodus 34.5-8)
Yesterday’s article covered the word YHWH (The LORD) and the fact that God is merciful and gracious. Today, we’re going to look at other aspects of God’s magnificent character, as are descriptions of His name, The LORD.
(1) Slow to Anger: In the face of human shortcomings, God is patient and exercises self-control. He understands human failure and our broken condition.
God is compassionate and gives humans time for repentance. However, in this passage, we see that there are consequences for wrongdoing.
(2) Steadfast Love: At the beginning, the Hebrew word for steadfast love embodies the idea of covenant-keeping ability.
When God continued to keep his covenant with Israel, even after they had sinned, this word evolved from covenant-keeping ability to steadfast love.
This is the closest Old Testament term to the New Testament concept of grace.
(3) Faithfulness: This aspect of God’s character conveys the idea of steadfastness, reliability, and trustworthiness. God’s faithfulness signifies his unwavering commitment to his promises, covenants, and his people.
Like other characteristics of God, this is not just something he does, but it is a fundamental aspect of who God is.
His faithfulness is enduring and unchanging, providing us with a sense of stability and security. He is entirely trustworthy.
(4) Forgiving iniquity . . . yet by no means clearing the guilty: Verses 6 and 7 reveal a profound aspect of God’s character.
He is merciful and just, and there are generational consequences to our behavior.
That is why we are called to repentance, personal responsibility, and maintaining a faithful relationship with God.
The Bible is clear about God’s forgiveness, but it also communicates the consequences of sin. God holds individuals responsible for their actions.
While he forgives individual sins, the repercussions can affect future generations. Our actions have far-reaching effects beyond ourselves.
The best course of action is to engage in repentance that aligns our lives with God’s will.
(5) Worship: Moses responded to the divine name and a list of God’s characteristics by worshipping God.
As we explore this passage, we do well to follow his example. Let’s examine each aspect of God’s magnificent character and give him the worship he deserves.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny, and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 