Bible Study - Voice (4) - Does It Align with GOD'S Character? - Exodus 34:1-9 - February 12, 2023

 

Bible Study – Voice (4) – Does It Align with GOD’S Character? February 12, 2023

This is lesson four in our series entitled, “How to Discern the Voice of GOD?”

Our focus scripture is Exodus 34:1-9.

GOD never calls us to do something outside HIS character.

So, what is the character of GOD? Let’s explore!

Let’s read Exodus 34:1-5:

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut 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 prepared by morning. Come up Mount Sinai in the morning and stand before me on the mountaintop. ³ No one may go up with you; in fact, no one should be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds are not to graze in front of that mountain.”

⁴ Moses cut two stone tablets like the first ones. He got up early in the morning, and taking the two stone tablets in his hand, he climbed Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him.

[Interesting fact – Exodus 32:15: ¹⁵ Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides—inscribed front and back.]

⁵ The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed his name, “the Lord.” 

As you may recall Moses broke the first stone tablets GOD had written when Moses came down the mountain and saw the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf. Moses was going back up the mountain to meet with GOD carrying two new stone tablets. GOD instructed Moses to “Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and I (GOD) will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” GOD knew what had happened.

Moses arrived on the mountain according to GOD’S instructions. Notice that Moses was very careful to follow GOD’S instructions. This gives us a clue when GOD speaks to us, we are to carefully follow HIS instructions.

Moses arrived at the place that GOD had instructed him. Obedience is vital to GOD for us who are Spirit-born.

Let’s read Exodus 34:6-7:

⁶ The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed:

The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, ⁷ maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

The LORD, I AM/YAHWEH/YHWH, revealed HIS character to Moses. The use of the word LORD, in all caps, reveals the proper name or title for GOD as complete Creator and ever present One. The Israelites had sinned by worshipping the Golden calf. How would GOD respond to Moses? But we read in Exodus 32: ³⁰ The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.”

³¹ So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves. ³² Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.”

We can only speculate as to what Moses may have thought GOD’S response would be. GOD wanted Moses to know HIS character.

First of all, GOD is the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, WHO reigns supreme above all. There is no other like HIM. Therefore, in all the characteristics GOD reveals Himself. They are genuine and reveal the extent HE goes to interact with those who seek HIM:

Compassionate – even though the people sinned, GOD still had compassion for them. This is still true today. No matter how much we have sinned, GOD’S desire is for all people to come to HIM and ask for forgiveness. Moses had asked GOD to forgive the Israelites for going astray when they worshipped the Golden calf. In Exodus 32: ³¹ So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves. ³² Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.”

³³ The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will erase from my book.” In essence, GOD told Moses, that each person must pay for his or her own sin(s). Now, we know that GOD had a plan to redeem all who will place their faith in HIS Only SON, JESUS.

Gracious – Compassionate and gracious go together and reveals to all humans that there is no other authority above HIM. HE is above all and there is no one greater than HIM. Even though HE is all powerful, HE knows what true love is and HE freely gives it when anyone comes to HIM with a contrite heart.

Compassionate and gracious are both wonderful characteristics of GOD. Compassion embodies an active, protective, genuine concern for another. Gracious reveals that GOD does things for people they do not deserve. As GOD’S Spirit-born Children, we are saved from the consequence of our sin, not only by the faith in JESUS and the passion of JESUS but also by GOD’S Grace. WOW! I am so grateful. Rejoice!!! Grace is undeserved favor from GOD.

Slow to anger is a stark contrast to the false gods in that day and today as well. The false gods were perceived to get angry because of any unpleasant thing that happened e.g., plagues, terrible weather events, etc. were ascribed to these false gods. GOD is slow to anger. I am so glad because I have given HIM enough to get angry about. Thank YOU for being patient with me.

The LORD abounding in faithful love and truth. Faithful love is unchanging love. GOD is not fickle. As HIS Spirit-born Children, we can count on HIM. HE is faithful to HIS Word. I prayed with a friend who prayed with an open Bible and he would read certain promises as he prayed for certain issues, people or things and would claim them as he prayed. GOD is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The LORD not only abounds in faithful love but also in truth. Truth is vital to all who serve the LORD. Truth is consistent and never changes. WOW!!!

The LORD is forgiving. I am so glad. We all stump our toes as we journey with our LORD. JESUS is our example. What did HE say while HE was being crucified – Luke 23:34 - ³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”

The LORD punishes the guilty. But we also know that HIS desire is for all people to come to HIM to repent of their sins and receive HIS forgiveness and eternal salvation through faith in JESUS.

Then the LORD gives us a review of the consequences for those who reject HIM as we read in Exodus 34:7 - “But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.”

Parents do you want to leave an eternal legacy for your off-spring? Then give your heart to JESUS and live according to HIS leadership as guided by the eternal and internal Holy Spirit.

As we read on, notice how Moses reacted after The LORD gave him HIS characteristics and attributes -----

Let’s read Exodus 34:8-9:

⁸ Moses immediately knelt low on the ground and worshiped. ⁹ Then he said, “My Lord, if I have indeed found favor with you, my Lord, please go with us (even though this is a stiff-necked people), forgive our iniquity and our sin, and accept us as your own possession.”

When Moses fully understood and comprehended what GOD had revealed regarding HIS nature, it resulted in Moses immediately worshipping GOD.

When we think of GOD, what do we think about HIM?

Let us read again what GOD reveals about HIS nature and prayerfully consider what GOD has revealed about Himself to us through HIS Word as we  read in Exodus 34:6-7:

The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, ⁷ maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

To GOD be the Glory, great things HE has done, especially HIS redemptive plan through faith in JESUS for all who accept JESUS as their Savior. Blessings!!!