When asked to give the qualities of some person we know, we often list those qualities that we like or appreciate the most. If we think that person is quite handsome or beautiful, we might list that first. If we have appreciated their honesty in all matters, we might put that on top. Or perhaps, after having had to deal with others' hot tempers, we might first list their calmness. To get a complete and honest picture, though, one has to list all of their qualities or characteristics, not just the ones that we like. In our Scripture passage today from the Book of Exodus, we read some of the characteristics of God, some we like, and some that we might not like to think too much about.
As our Scripture passage opens, we read of the Lord God giving Moses a second set of the Ten Commandments. Earlier in the Book of Exodus we read where God had first given Moses the tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them (Exodus 20:1-17). However, when Moses delayed in coming down from Mt. Sinai, the people grew restless and proceeded to carve a golden calf, an idol, to worship (Exodus 32:1-6). When Moses did return and saw what the people had done, how they had fallen into idolatry, he was so angry and upset that he broke the tablets with the writing of God upon them (Exodus 32:19). Now, several chapters later, God has made a second set (vs. 1-4).
We might think that Moses was wrong in losing his temper and breaking the initial Ten Commandments, that he should have remained calm and just sat down with the leaders of the people and discussed everyone’s actions calmly. However, God has never tolerated His people worshipping false gods. This was breaking two of the commandments - not worshipping any other gods besides Yahweh, and making a graven image to worship. Worshipping false gods and following after the practices of false religions was what had led the people into sin so frequently throughout their history, and ultimately led to their going into captivity in Babylon. God will never tolerate that. Moses’ anger then was a righteous one.
When the Lord gave Moses the second set of Commandments, He passed before Moses and proclaimed His Name and His nature or qualities (vs. 5-7). In the previous chapter, Moses had asked God if he could see His glory. God’s glory is His character, His nature. God’s glory is revealed in His mercy, grace, compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice.
Focusing on just one of God’s attributes or qualities presents a distorted view of God. We should never over-emphasize or focus solely on just one. Over-emphasizing on God’s anger and judgment of sin overlooks His mercy. Over-emphasizing on mercy ignores His equally important attribute of justice and judgment. In 17th and 18th century colonial America, the Puritan preachers strongly leaned their preaching and teaching on God’s anger and judgment, and rarely preached on His love. Now the pendulum has swung the other way, and preachers today never preach on sin or judgment, but only on God loving and accepting everyone and everything. Both groups accept one attribute of God’s character and reject an attribute they don’t care for. God is merciful and gracious, but He is also just in punishing the guilty (vs. 6-7). We should never portray God as having only our favorite attributes.
For some, verse 7 has been a troubling verse, as they interpret it as saying that God punishes children for the sins of their parents. That is not true. God does not punish someone for the sins of another. Each person is held accountable for their own sins. However, people often suffer as a result of the sins of others. Child abuse, drug addictions, and alcoholism are examples, as well as selfishness and greed. Each are frequently passed on from generation to generation, often called a generational sin.
As we study the character and nature of God, let’s try to look at a whole and complete picture, not just one facet that we like to see. God is love, but He is also angry at sin. He is merciful and forgiving, but He is also just. When Moses beheld God proclaiming His Name and nature, he quickly bowed his head and worshipped.
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