Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: "The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out:On Mount Sinai, after Israel’s sin with the golden calf and Moses’ intercession, the LORD revealed His glory while shielding Moses from its full splendor (Exodus 33:18–23). The second tablets would testify that the covenant stood by God’s mercy rather than Israel’s worthiness. The LORD’s personal proclamation disclosed the character behind His covenant actions. Sinai would later become the setting for Elijah’s encounter with God, where the prophet also learned that the LORD is not limited to displays of destructive power but works according to His holy purposes (1 Kings 19:11–13). 1Ki 19:11 Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain… “The LORD, the LORD God, The repeated covenant name declares that the God who called Abraham, delivered Israel from Egypt, and spoke with Moses remains unwaveringly Himself. He is not one tribal deity among many, but the sovereign Creator and covenant Lord. His name assures His people that His promises rest on His own eternal faithfulness. 1Ki 18:39 When all the people saw this, they fell facedown… is compassionate and gracious, The LORD’s mercy toward Israel followed immediately upon their grave rebellion, demonstrating that He does not abandon His people at their first or repeated failure. His compassion sees human weakness and misery, while His grace provides what sinners cannot earn. The restoration of the covenant anticipated the greater redemption accomplished through Jesus Christ. Psa 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,… slow to anger, The LORD’s holiness does not overlook sin, yet He patiently calls people to repentance rather than bringing immediate judgment. Israel’s wilderness history repeatedly displayed such patience as God disciplined their unbelief while continuing to lead, feed, and preserve them. His delay in judgment reveals mercy, not indifference to evil. Num 14:18 The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion… abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, The LORD’s covenant love remains steadfast because it arises from His own character. His faithfulness guarantees that His word is true and His promises endure, even when His people prove unfaithful. In Jesus Christ, God’s love and truth are fully revealed, securing forgiveness and bringing believers into the lasting covenant relationship God promised. Psa 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne… Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The self-existent, eternal God who reveals His character to Moses. The repetition of "The LORD" emphasizes His unchanging nature. 2. Moses The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and to receive the Law on Mount Sinai. 3. Mount Sinai The mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments and where God revealed His character to Moses. 4. The Israelites God's chosen people, who are the recipients of His covenant and the ones who benefit from His compassion and grace. 5. The Event of Revelation God revealing His character to Moses, which is a pivotal moment in understanding God's nature and His relationship with His people. Teaching Points Understanding God's CharacterRecognize that God's self-revelation to Moses is foundational for understanding His nature. His compassion, grace, patience, love, and truth are central to His dealings with humanity. God's Patience and Grace Reflect on how God's patience and grace are evident in your life. Consider how He has been slow to anger and abundant in love towards you. Living in Truth and Love As God abounds in loving devotion and truth, strive to embody these attributes in your relationships with others. Let His character shape your interactions. Repentance and Forgiveness God's compassionate nature invites us to repentance. Trust in His readiness to forgive and restore, as seen throughout Scripture. Consistency of God's Nature God's character is consistent throughout the Bible. This consistency provides a firm foundation for faith and trust in His promises. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding God's character as described in Exodus 34:6 impact your view of Him and your relationship with Him?2. In what ways have you experienced God's compassion and grace in your own life? How can you extend these attributes to others? 3. How does the revelation of God's character in Exodus 34:6 connect with the call to repentance found in Joel 2:13? 4. Reflect on a time when you were slow to anger and abounded in love towards someone. How did this reflect God's character? 5. How can the consistency of God's nature, as seen in Exodus 34:6 and other scriptures, provide comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 103:8This verse echoes the description of God as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love, reinforcing the consistency of God's character throughout the Bible. Joel 2:13 Calls for repentance by reminding the people of God's gracious and compassionate nature, similar to the attributes listed in Exodus 34:6. Jonah 4:2 Jonah acknowledges God's gracious and compassionate nature, slow to anger and abounding in love, which is why he initially fled from God's command. Nehemiah 9:17 The Israelites confess their sins and acknowledge God's readiness to forgive, highlighting His gracious and compassionate nature. People Aaron, Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Israelites, Jebusites, Moses, PerizzitesPlaces Egypt, Mount Sinai, SinaiTopics Abounding, Abundant, Anger, Calleth, Compassionate, Face, Faith, Faithfulness, Front, Full, Goodness, Grace, Gracious, Kindness, Long-suffering, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Merciful, Mercy, Passed, Passeth, Past, Pity, Proclaimed, Proclaiming, Saying, Slow, Steadfast, Truth, WrathDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 34:6 1025 God, anger of 1205 God, titles of 1075 God, justice of Library Blessed and Tragic Unconsciousness'... Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.'--EXODUS xxxiv. 29. '... And Samson wist not that the Lord had departed from him.'--JUDGES xvi. 20. The recurrence of the same phrase in two such opposite connections is very striking. Moses, fresh from the mountain of vision, where he had gazed on as much of the glory of God as was accessible to man, caught some gleam of the light which he adoringly beheld; and a strange radiance sat on his face, unseen by himself, but … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture God Proclaiming his Own Name A Jealous God The Knowledge that God Is, Combined with the Knowledge that He is to be Worshipped. Nature of the Renderings Elijah's Weakness, and Its Cube "That the Righteousness of the Law Might be Fulfilled in Us. " Moses --Making Haste The Christian's God Jehovah. The "I Am. " The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day. That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful. The Exercise of Mercy Optional with God. The True Tabernacle, and Its Glory of Grace and Peace Because of his Importunity The Mercy of God The Formation of the Old Testament Canon That Deep Things Ought not to be Preached at all to Weak Souls. The Lord of Glory. The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws Moses the Type of Christ. Covenant Duties. Links Exodus 34:6 NIVExodus 34:6 NLT Exodus 34:6 ESV Exodus 34:6 NASB Exodus 34:6 KJV Exodus 34:6 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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