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A God Merciful and Gracious

Sunday, September 4, 2022
Pastor Jojo Ma

 

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. 3 No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.” 4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

What we see and learn in these verses is what the Bible says from Genesis to Revelation --- that God is the epicenter of Scripture and the One who alone is worthy of our allegiance and worship.

5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

God’s glory is primarily seen in knowing who God is. In other words, as we live this side of heaven, to see God’s glory is to know His character. Or another way to put it is like this: God’s glory is not known through an appearance but through His attributes.

When you go through a very hard time in life, whatever it is, what is the one thing you must know? I will tell you very frankly: You need to know God. You need to have the true knowledge of the one true and triune God.

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord…”

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…”

7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.

The gospel is only good news for repentant sinners. It has nothing to offer to unrepentant sinners.

7…[God] will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.

Ex 20:5…visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me.

Now in the new covenant, Christ has taken the curse for us so that repentance and forgiveness is our reality, not some kind of generational curse.

8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Church, I want you to be growing in the true knowledge of God because this knowledge of God is intended to move your hearts to love, affection, and worship. And I hope and pray this heart of worship is reflected in your life.