The people of Israel were often times wayward, regularly wandering off track and missing the mark by a country mile. In fact, the first time Moses came down from the mountain the people were worshiping a golden calf while the Lord stood by, a deserted lover. And while He could've reacted in fury and destroyed them all with a word, that didn't happen. Rather He once again met Moses on the mountain in order to restore the covenant with those He loved. The sheer fact that Exodus 34 was written is evidence that He is a God of mercy and grace rather than a God who rushes to judgment.

God's Covenant

The first covenant God made on the mountain went like this: "If you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Ex. 19:5-6) What an incredible promise! But instead of remaining loyal and worshiping the one true God they abandoned relationship with Him to worship a golden cow made with their own wayward hands. They had deserted the God of all mercy.

These people had a long track record of sin and disobedience that included their lack of faith at the Red Sea, bitter complaints against God in the wilderness, and finally worshiping a golden calf!

What is most revealing in this story is not the fact that God is willing to meet with Moses again and renew their promises to one another but that Exodus 34:5 says: "The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with Moses there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord."

God declares in verse 6: "Yahweh! Yahweh!" and then He explains the meaning of His name, in words so descriptive that even New Testament descriptions can't compare. "A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."

God's Patience

I am convinced that the Lord has more patience with us than we can ever imagine--certainly far more than we have with each other. Today I was flipping television channels and saw something that disturbed me, and I found myself wanting to pronounce gloom and doom on those I felt deserved judgment. I was so angry that if I had been God I would've zapped them right then and there! It's a good thing we are not God, isn't it? We often have a zero-patience policy with others and are quick to execute them with our tongues and regard them as worthless. We are, however, extremely long-suffering with our own flaws, faults and short comings, excusing ourselves with: "God knows my heart... I didn't mean it that way... He loves me just the way I am..." or, "I am a work in progress."

Luke Chapter 9 tells us that Jesus was headed toward Jerusalem, where he didn't take the most direct route, but instead went through Samaria. He sent several friends ahead to arrange for overnight accommodations, but the people who lived there refused to welcome Jesus. James and John were infuriated when they heard the news and bellowed, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and destroy them [even as Elijah did]?" (Luke 9:54) I believe that verbal explosion is what earned James and John the nickname "Sons of thunder." These guys basically asked permission to nuke that little Samaritan village! As we read on Jesus gently rebukes them, explaining that His mission is to heal and transform rather than to assault or annihilate.

It's intriguing to read this incident as recorded in Luke 9 and then move on to Acts Chapter 8 where it says that after Jesus' ascension Christianity began to multiply like wildfire through the villages of Samaria. When that happened, the church in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to minister to the new believers there. Well, can you envision how John reacted...now that he was far more mature in his walk with Christ? You have to wonder how he responded upon arriving in that village full of new believers, in a place where, years earlier, his anger had made him want to wipe them out!

I think that oftentimes we as Christians become sons of thunder, quick to judge others, strict and rigidly critical, while we judge ourselves by our good intentions. We refuse to cut others any slack and want God to deal quickly and harshly with those we perceive as evil or hopeless.

God's Mercy

I am discovering that God is far more merciful than I. I pray that I too will learn to show mercy and compassion, because God has given those things to me, undeserving as I am. Now that doesn't mean we are to wink and excuse sin or that we compromise in any way, but rather that we remain steadfast, believing for the best and praying that God's love will transform even the hardest of hearts.  If we are overflowing with the love of God we will never give up on others, but will know that nothing, but nothing is impossible with God.

Scripture tells us that the God of Israel is the same yesterday, today and forever. He never misrepresented His nature, even to accommodate human beings. He is exactly who He always was, a just, fair and merciful God and Father to His beloved. His patience and tender mercies are evident throughout the Old Testament, just as His love and judgment are also apparent in the New.

The God of both mercy and judgment awaits each of us at the end of our journey. He always extends His hand in restoration to those who will repent and humble their hearts. Scripture tells us that there is a remnant of believers on earth who possess the same tender mercy toward others, who are quick to love and forgive, ready to believe God's best and to mourn when judgment falls on the wicked.  And lest we forget, if it weren't for His unmerited favor we, too would be condemned. Because we will all stand before God and give an account of how we behaved in the flesh we must bask in the manifest love of Christ, letting Him transform us, so that we are full to running over with the fruits of the spirit, quick to sow mercy so that we may also reap mercy on judgment day. Dear Lord, help us to be sons of mercy rather than sons of thunder!

"Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing mercy." - Micah 7:18

Steve Porter