Exodus 34:5-9 (NLT) Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”
This passage in Exodus is packed full of lessons for us to learn. It is a remarkable passage first in that it is the LORD explaining to Moses his own compassionate characteristics. The timing is also remarkable for it comes as Moses was receiving the commandments, for the SECOND time; Moses had already destroyed the first set of tablets.
Parts of the passage are difficult for us to read because we certainly don’t like to think about our mistakes affecting the generations who follow us. Yet our children and grandchildren do learn from our behaviors. They know what is important to us and they certainly see whether our Heavenly Father is a priority in our lives or not.
God will not excuse the guilty; He will not tolerate sin or wrong-doing in any form or to any degree. However, this passage is not a passage of doom and gloom. This is a message of great hope for us today! For truly, we fall short of the glory of God time after time. Yet in his mercy and compassion, our plea for forgiveness dispels God’s wrath. He lovingly accepts us back into his arms of mercy and grace. Our only job is to stay there—wrapped in his mercy and grace.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
By your own words you tell us of your compassion and mercy. Forgive us where we fail you. Guide us back into your loving embrace and give us the strength to remain there.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The devotional Wrapped in His Mercy and Grace appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
