Psalm 103:7-8
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
How would you describe God's character in one sentence?
There are many things we could say. But here’s one really good answer: ‘the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love’! In fact, it's the way God describes himself to Moses in Exodus 34. Knowing that God is compassionate, gracious and loving is always wonderful. But it's especially
amazing when we remember what the people of Israel were like. When God spoke these words in Exodus 34, he had just given Moses the 10 Commandments. Yet when Moses took them to the people he found that they had made a golden calf idol
and were worshipping it, instead of the God who was right in front of them. God had every right to abandon Israel right there and then, but instead he gave Moses a fresh copy of the 10 Commandments. The covenant that the people had already broken was able to stand because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
We're no different. Do you ever get bored of confessing your
sin to God, or feel that surely this time he will have had enough of you? Maybe we started this new season of life at home full of good intentions to spend time with God daily, engage patiently with our children at all times, and serve our neighbours wholeheartedly. It won’t have taken long to discover that we’re
still the same people we were before - easily distracted, quick to turn away from God and look for strength and help elsewhere, more concerned with our own comfort that with living others. Fear not! The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. There is always a loving welcome when we turn back to him in humble repentance. Every. Single. Time.
