“The Gracious and Compassionate God” (Exodus 34:1–9)

“The Gracious and Compassionate God” (Exodus 34:1–9)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday PM, April 7, 2019

Exodus 34:1–9 (NIV)
34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. 3 No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”
       4 So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 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.”
       8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”

1. The Holy One of Israel Displays His Compassion and Grace (vv. 1–4).

a. By not destroying Israel for their adulterous violation of the covenant (32:11–14).
b. By his willingness to go with the Israelites on their way to Canaan (33:12–17).
c. By his willingness to reveal a diminished view of his infinite glory to his servant Moses (33:17–23).
d. By his willingness to renew the covenant with a faithless and stubborn people (34:1–4 [v. 10]).
e. By his willingness to forgive the wickedness of the Israelites and be their God and they his people (34:7, 8–9).

2. The Holy One of Israel Proclaims His Compassion and Grace (vv. 5–7).

a. He proclaims his Name, the LORD (YHWH).
b. He proclaims his Essential Character.

i. Compassionate
ii. Gracious
iii. Slow to anger
iv. Abounding in love (Hesed)
v. Abounding in faithfulness
vi. Maintaining love (Hesed) to thousands (for a thousand generations)

9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deut. 7:9 NIV)

vii. Forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin
viii. Just – not leaving the guilty unpunished
ix. He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.

c. This proclamation of the LORD’s Name and Character becomes the core description of the God of Israel throughout the Scriptures (Num 14:18; Neh 9:17; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Psalm 86:15; 103:8; 108:4; 111:4; 116:5; 145:8).

3. The Holy One of Israel Is to Be Worshiped for His Compassion and Grace (vv. 8–9).