THE STORY OF JESUS: Exodus 32-34
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)
I get how some people find the violence of God in ch.32 (and elsewhere) hard to accept.
A compassionate God that, when the time comes, will execute justice and death firmly.
How do I respond to the justice side of God, when it is so violent?
** I remind myself that these are brief clips of complicated events, not the whole story
** they were written in violent times, the authors reflect their own cultural perspective
** we don’t get how serious their sin was, and why it had to be dealt with so harshly
** there were no police, no justice system, no other way to deal with civil disobedience
** God works out His purposes through the cultural context of the time
** too often we judge God and others by our own biases and limited perspectives
** the compassion of God as seen in Jesus is the filter through which I read these stories
A world without justice is doomed, but so is a world without mercy.
When God reveals Himself, He reveals Himself first and foremost as a God of compassion.
“God is love” (1 John 4:8,16) we are told, not ‘God is anger’ (or hate, violence).
When God acts with justice or anger, it is an expression of His frustrated love.
God wants to have a “face to face” (Exodus 33:11) relationship with all of us.
We are the stubborn ones, we are the slow to learn ones, we are the hurtful ones.
I admit it, I do not like the violent stories of God’s justice in the bible.
But I still trust God’s mercy and compassion – they’re our only hope!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You are the face of God to us. And in You we see God’s justice and mercy most clearly. You took our place, endured our judgment, so that we could be restored.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
‘What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’
The above text hit me this morning.
How often do I not go my own way not asking the Lord the way to travel? I need to listen to the voice which says, this is the way. Walk in it. I need to trust and obey at all times inquiring of His will for my life – not only when I am in ‘trouble’ but also when the times are ‘good.’ I need to put my hand in His for His leading and guiding in all I do. I must be SpiritLed to make me GodStrong.
When this is true then others will see that I am a child of the King.
A witness not only by words but also by deeds.
My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
Refrain
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.
My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.
Refrain
I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
Refrain
A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.