As we start a new year, let’s consider how we view God. Looking over your past years, however many they may be, what has been your perception of God? Have you viewed Him as a divine tyrant, out to get you at any chance He may have? Perhaps as someone who will clobber you whenever you slip up, or an unmerciful Judge? Do you view Him as a remote deity, someone who does not get involved with the affairs of mankind? Or do you view God as a Divine grandfatherly type figure, one who will give you a wink and a smile, no matter what you might do? As we read our Scripture for today, from the Old Testament Book of Exodus, we will see some of the Divine attributes of God listed, and we can determine if our perception of God up until now is correct, and if we need to adjust how we perceive Him going forward.
As our Scripture passage opens, God is giving Moses a second set of the Ten Commandments (vs. 1-4). The first set had been broken when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, and saw the people of Israel worshipping a golden calf they had made, and engaging in perverse behavior. In anger and frustration, Moses had thrown the first set of Ten Commandments on the ground, breaking them (Exodus 32). Through the intercession of Moses, God forgave the people their sins, and He rewrote the commandments again upon stone tablets.
God could so easily have struck those people down. Their sin was vile, especially when we realize that this was only a matter of a few short weeks after God had so powerfully and graciously delivered them from slavery in Egypt. However, He didn’t, and He even provided a second set of the Law. The repetition of giving the Ten Commandments a second time underlines God’s love and patience with us. How many times does God have to start over again with us, teaching us the same lesson over and over again, because we keep falling? For most of us, it is many times.
Moses, on top of Mt. Sinai the second time, received a new set of the Ten Commandments written upon stone. Then the Lord God, within a cloud beside Moses, passed before him, proclaiming His Name and some of His attributes (vs. 5-7). God was not bragging here. Unlike people, God does not brag about achievements and feats He has done. When He reveals who He is, it isn’t titles and achievements that He lists, but instead, the kind of character He has. The Lord revealed to Moses His character and nature, which His Name proclaims.
Let’s look at what God says about His character. He proclaimed that He is merciful, gracious, and long-suffering. We see that all throughout Scripture. Over and over again, instead of smiting the people because of their sins, He puts up with their faithlessness, and mercifully forgives them. We can see that with ourselves, as well. How many times have we failed God, repeatedly falling into sin, and yet, He patiently puts up with us. Instead of blasting us into oblivion, God mercifully forgives those who come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a good God, giving us only what is good for us, and He is truth, with no falsehood or evil in Him at all.
As God further proclaims His character, He tells how He will show mercy to thousands, forgiving their sins through the Blood of Jesus. However, if they refuse to come to Him, God cannot forgive (vs. 7). They, through their own choice, will be punished for their sins. The unrepentant cannot experience forgiveness from the Lord. However, once someone comes to Christ, the curse is broken (II Corinthians 5:17-19).
Many have wondered about the second half of verse 7, and if it means that God punishes children and grandchildren for the sins of their parents. No, God does not. However, this shows how the sins of one’s parents can become a generational curse, passing on to future generations. Children often suffer for the sins of their parents. Child abuse and alcoholism are examples of sins that are passed on for generations, along with things like selfishness and greed. Jesus came to break the curse, and when we turn to Him for salvation, these curses can be broken.
As we look at these attributes of God given in this Scripture, we need to avoid portraying Him as having only our favorite characteristics. Many people like to portray God as only loving and forgiving. Some others as only a God of justice. God has declared Himself to be merciful, gracious, and loving, but also just in punishing the guilty. We must worship all of God, not just what we like.
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