Is it in your default to think of God as Someone who is waiting to hammer you for messing up?

If you grew up thinking of God more as a judge or a harsh father than a loving one,  it’s understandable you might think of God in those terms. But Scripture presents a softer side of God that will take your breath away.

As I was writing out Scripture verses on God’s presence this week, I was struck by something God told Moses, just after His people had gravely disappointed Him. It assured me, once again, that our God is Someone far more loving and patient than we tend to think, especially after we’ve disappointed Him.

In Exodus 34:6 and the first part of verse 7, we read that God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming:

“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…”

The passage goes on to say: “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished…” He is still a God who demands holiness. But what I love about this passage is that, in context, God is describing Himself to Moses after His people had sinned and desecrated His name and insulted His holiness by constructing and worshipping a golden calf and calling it their god. And they did those rebellious acts after God had shown them so many wonders and rescued them from the bondage of Egypt.

At a moment when God would have been fully justified and expected to remind Moses and the people that He is God Almighty, the judge, the ruler, and the all-powerful One who will not tolerate sin, He instead reminds Moses and His people—and us today—that He is “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.” God’s chosen description of Who He is emphasized His compassion, His grace, His mercy, and His love, not His righteous anger or wrath.

At that time, there were lots of made up gods, false gods, but then and now only one True God. And our God set Himself apart from the created gods by saying He is the compassionate and gracious God…

• unlike Molech–the false god that required parents to throw their first born babies into the fire.
• unlike the false gods worshipped today who, as humans, only proclaimed to be good teachers, but never proclaimed to be God.
• unlike the false gods who require vengeance from their enemies, and who require people to work to earn their favor.

He made it clear He is THE God of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.

Are you feeling today like He’s a God who expects more than you can give? Because that gracious and merciful God knew you couldn’t give Him anything righteous on your own, so He sent His Son to die in your place, for your sin debt, so you could have His righteousness cover your sin and live forever with Him.

This gracious God knew you couldn’t work enough for your salvation so He sent His Son to do the work you couldn’t on Calvary’s cross.

This loving God who forgives wickedness and sin and rebellion is the One who gives you another chance time after time because He is “the Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

What do you have to be thankful for in this season of Thanksgiving? You know the compassionate and gracious God who is patient and abounding in love, forgiveness, and faithfulness toward you.

Thank You, Lord God, for Who You are—so gracious, merciful, and loving toward even me. May I become more and more like You in my grace, compassion, and love for others. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 What are you particularly grateful for as you approach Thanksgiving week? I would love to hear it in the comment section below.