Exodus 34:1-35
Theology is the study of God. Seminarians and Bible college students learn about His attributes, which deals with the important question, What is God like? Usually the attributes are divided into two groups: incommunicable attributes, and communicable attributes. The incommunicable attributes emphasis the absolute distinctiveness of God; the communicable attributes find some likeness in human beings created in the image of God. Communicable attributes are often classified as intellectual, moral, and volitional. Enough said.
In Exodus 34:5 we read, "The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him (Moses) there...." He is not the God of the deist, who believes in an impersonal God who has nonchalantly wandered off in infinity, leaving men and women to cope for themselves. The Lord is not far from any of us. He has come down to our level.
He is not only a personal God, but also One who has revealed Himself. "And the Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed...." He speaks, and has made Himself known. We can only find God where He has revealed Himself. What does He have to say about Himself? What is the Lord like? Read Exodus 34:6, 7.
The Lord is "merciful." He is rich in mercy. In the tabernacle we find the mercy seat of pure gold above the Ark of the Testimony. Those who come to Him in genuine repentance receive mercy. Luke 18:9-14.
He is also "gracious." Some fail to perceive God's grace in the Old Testament. But under the law in the building of the tabernacle and establishment of the priesthood, we witness that grace. From Genesis to Revelation God is always gracious in dealing with mankind.
God is "longsuffering." He was longsuffering in the days of Noah, even as He is longsuffering today, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He is patient with each of us.
He is "abounding in goodness and truth." God is good! God is faithful and true! We find Him in His goodness and truth, "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin..., visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."
This is what the Lord is like: merciful, gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. This is how He described Himself here in Exodus 34:6, 7. This is what He is like beyond the sacred page.
What was Moses' response to the Lord's proclamation? "So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped."
Lord, we bow our heads and worship You. You are greater than we can ever comprehend. Yet we thank You for making Yourself known to us. Reveal Yourself to others through us. In Jesus' name. Amen!
