"I will cause all My goodness to pass before you," the LORD replied, "and I will proclaim My name--the LORD--in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,”God answered Moses after Israel’s worship of the golden calf had broken the covenant relationship. Rather than abandoning the nation, He revealed the goodness at the heart of His dealings with His sinful people: holy moral perfection, steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness. Moses would receive an extraordinary revelation of God’s glory, though the following verses make clear that no man can see God’s face in His unveiled fullness and live. God’s goodness would ultimately be made known in Jesus Christ, who revealed the Father’s grace and truth in human flesh (John 1:14, 18). Psa 27:13 Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD… the LORD replied, The LORD, YHWH, spoke as the covenant God who had redeemed Israel from Egypt and bound Himself to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God who revealed His name to Moses at the burning bush remained faithful despite Israel’s rebellion. Moses stood before Him as Israel’s intercessor, pleading not merely for forgiveness but for the continuing presence of God among the people. Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. God’s name reveals His character and covenant faithfulness. The proclamation recorded in Exodus 34:6–7 would declare Him compassionate, gracious, patient, abounding in steadfast love and truth, forgiving sin, and also perfectly just. Israel’s future depended not on its worthiness but on the character of the LORD who had chosen and redeemed it. Jesus likewise made the Father known to His disciples and to all who believe in Him (John 17:6). Exo 34:5-7 And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there… I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, Mercy belongs to God’s sovereign freedom. No sinner can demand forgiveness, preservation, or fellowship with Him as a right. Israel had deserved judgment for its idolatry, yet God chose to continue dealing with the nation in mercy. Paul cites these words in Romans 9:15 to show that salvation rests on God’s mercy rather than human will, effort, ancestry, or merit. Rom 9:15-18 For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy… and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” God’s compassion flows from His own righteous and loving nature. His continued provision, guidance, and discipline of Israel in the wilderness demonstrated that compassion even after their grievous sin. Divine compassion does not ignore guilt; it provides a way for sinners to be forgiven while God remains just. The cross of Christ displays that mercy fully, where God gave His Son so that those who trust Him might receive grace and eternal life. Lam 3:32-33 Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion… Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The self-existent, eternal God who reveals His character and sovereignty to Moses. 2. Moses The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and guide them through the wilderness. 3. Mount Sinai The place where Moses meets with God and receives the Law, a significant location for divine revelation. 4. The Israelites God's chosen people, who are in a covenant relationship with Him and are journeying to the Promised Land. 5. The Tent of Meeting A place where Moses would meet with God, symbolizing God's presence among His people. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and MercyGod's declaration of mercy and compassion underscores His sovereign will. Believers can trust in God's perfect wisdom and justice, even when His choices are beyond human understanding. The Revelation of God's Goodness God's goodness is central to His character. As believers, we are called to reflect on His goodness in our lives and respond with gratitude and worship. The Importance of God's Name The proclamation of God's name signifies His presence and authority. Understanding the significance of God's name can deepen our reverence and relationship with Him. Experiencing God's Presence Like Moses, we are invited to seek God's presence and glory. Through prayer and Scripture, we can encounter His transformative presence in our daily lives. Living Out God's Compassion As recipients of God's mercy and compassion, we are called to extend the same to others. This involves acts of kindness, forgiveness, and love in our communities. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding God's sovereignty in showing mercy and compassion affect your view of His character and your relationship with Him?2. In what ways can you actively seek to experience God's goodness and presence in your daily life? 3. How does the revelation of God's name and character in Exodus 33:19 influence your worship and prayer life? 4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's mercy and compassion. How can this experience shape your interactions with others? 5. How do the themes of God's goodness, mercy, and compassion in Exodus 33:19 connect with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament? Connections to Other Scriptures Romans 9:15Paul references Exodus 33:19 to illustrate God's sovereign choice in showing mercy and compassion, emphasizing His divine prerogative. Psalm 145:8-9 These verses echo the themes of God's goodness, mercy, and compassion, highlighting His gracious nature. John 1:14 The fullness of God's goodness and glory is ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ, who embodies grace and truth. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Paul speaks of the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Christ, connecting to the revelation of God's goodness to Moses. Ephesians 2:4-5 God's rich mercy and great love are demonstrated in His saving grace, aligning with His character as revealed to Moses.
People Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Isaac, Jacob, Jebusites, Joshua, Moses, Nun, PerizzitesPlaces Mount Horeb, SinaiTopics Cause, Clear, Compassion, Face, Favour, Favoured, Front, Goodness, Gracious, Kind, Love, Loved, Mercy, Myself, Pass, Presence, Proclaim, ShewDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 33:19 1030 God, compassion 1045 God, glory of Library The Mediator's Threefold Prayer'And Moses said unto the Lord, See, Thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Yet Thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in My sight. 13. Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight: and consider that this nation is Thy people. 14. And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15. And he … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture June the Seventeenth the Invisible Presence Election no Discouragement to Seeking Souls A view of God's Glory Of the Way to Attain Divine Union After the Preceding Ways, There Remains an after Way, Preparatory to Divine Union, in which Wisdom and Justice Make the Passive Purification of the Soul, All Let us Now Examine the Conditions under which a Revelation May be Expected To... Whence Also the Just of Old, Before the Incarnation of the Word... Ninteenth Lesson. I Go unto the Father!' The Blessed Privilege of Seeing God Explained Moses the Type of Christ. The Wonderful. Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli . The Personality of Power. An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh The Great Commission Given. Covenanting a Privilege of Believers. The Winsome Jesus. The Angel of the Lord in the Pentateuch, and the Book of Joshua. Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him. The Mercy of God Links Exodus 33:19 NIVExodus 33:19 NLT Exodus 33:19 ESV Exodus 33:19 NASB Exodus 33:19 KJV Exodus 33:19 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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