“Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.’”
—Exodus 34:6

Reflection

It is impossible for us to receive a true revelation of who God is without encountering His grace.

When we stand before a holy God, the God who is the same in both the Old and New Testaments, we also stand before a God full of grace. The truth is that we are human and He is God. He is holy, and we are not. Our very presence before Him requires grace.

Moses discovered this truth shortly after his exchange with God on Mount Sinai. After descending the mountain, he eventually set up a tent among the people where “the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

Talk about being in God’s presence!

In fact, Moses grew so accustomed to being in the Lord’s presence that he concluded the Jewish people would be helpless without it. He said, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). God reassured Moses that He would lead him and His people, and He even promised to reveal more of Himself to Moses at the prophet’s request.

Moses asked, “Show me Your glory.”

We might assume that God would reveal Himself primarily as the great Judge, the great Teacher, or the great Lawgiver. Moses had already spent forty days and nights receiving the Law, the commandments, and detailed instructions concerning how Israel was to live.

But when God revealed more of Himself, He proclaimed His own nature and character.

“The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.”

The very first way God described Himself was as compassionate and gracious.

God’s compassion flows out of His grace. The Hebrew word translated compassion is rachum. Its root carries the picture of a womb, describing the compassion and love a mother has toward her baby. It is emotional and passionate, the complete opposite of heartless and unfeeling.

Beloved, when God revealed more of His nature to Moses, this grace-filled, merciful compassion is what He presented first.

We cannot separate God’s holiness from His grace. The holy God who invites us into His presence is also compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.

Application

• When you come into God’s presence, remember that you are approaching One who describes Himself as compassionate and gracious.
• Ask God to give you a fuller revelation of His character, not only His holiness, but His grace-filled and merciful compassion.

Prayer

Father, show me Your glory and give me a true revelation of who You are. Thank You that although You are holy, You invite me into Your presence through grace. Help me know You as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. Let the revelation of Your merciful compassion sink deeply into my heart. I want to know You more fully and remain in Your presence, where I am completely dependent upon Your grace. Amen.