Exodus 33-34

Exodus 33-34

The nation of Israel can’t seem to get it together, especially in recent chapters.  Even though God doles out punishment on the nation of Israel when 3,000 people died, He also shows immense grace and forgiveness towards them.  God even meets with Moses, gives him the Ten Commandments again and establishes a covenant with him.

We have seen God forgive His people, even in spite of Israel being blatantly obstinate.

I think the bulk of these two chapters can be summed up in what God proclaims in Exodus 34:6-7:

“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgressions and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Sometimes I tend to focus on the second part of verse seven, where it talks about God’s judgment on the guilty, and I forget the truths that are offered first.

God has shown me immense grace.  

God is compassionate towards me even when I sin against Him.  

God is not angry with me, but instead desires to be in a closer relationship with me. He desires to meet with me on a regular and personal basis just like He did with Moses. 

God is not only able, but willing to forgive ALL sins and transgressions.  

God is truth, and in Him there is no deceit.