Who is God?

Who is God?

Bible: Exodus 34:1-9

Reading

The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in
love . . . Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished (VV.6-7).

What’s going on with God in the Old Testament? He’s so angry and violent. If He’s not flooding the earth then He’s blowing up entire civilisations or telling His people to invade enemy cities. Yet after about a 400 year break, once the Old Testament has finished, Jesus arrives. And everything feels different. “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (JOHN 3:17). What?! Where did that come from? Did God switch personalities? Or is the New Testament run by a new God entirely? God has always been God from before the beginning; He hasn’t changed. God describes Himself as merciful and gracious, but “he does not
leave the guilty unpunished” (NUMBERS 14:18). Those who only see God as an angry and demanding judge don’t want to go anywhere near Him. Those who see God as a kind-hearted granddad just get bored by Him and assume He’ll let everyone into heaven. That’s why we need the whole of the Bible to help us understand the real depth of who God is. He is “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love . . . Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished”
(EXODUS 34:6-7). Where do we make sense of God’s love and His judgement? On the cross where Jesus took on all God’s judgement for us, out of His great love.

GOD IS GOD ALONE.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries