The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 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, 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.”
Moses wanted to know God’s ways (Ex. 33:13) and to see God’s glory (Ex. 33:18). God responded favorably to Moses’ request. He told him that he would have all of his goodness pass before Moses and would proclaim his name to him (Ex. 33:19). And the passage quoted above describes that event.
In proclaiming his name, God was doing more than just identifying his name. He was revealing himself to Moses, essentially saying, “This is who I am.” Then he described himself using nine attributes.
- Merciful: God is full of compassion, genuinely caring about us.
- Gracious: He does for us what we do not deserve.
- Slow to anger: He is patient with our failures.
- Abounding in steadfast love (covenant love): He has favor toward those he has covenanted with.
- Abounding in faithfulness: He is trustworthy.
- Keeping steadfast love (covenant love) for thousands: He continues his covenant blessings for endless generations.
- Forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin: He forgives our sin when we repent.
- By no means clearing the guilty: Do not take God’s grace and forgiveness for granted.
- Visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children: Our sin can have long-term consequences.
What Is Your View of God?
Many people have a distorted view of God. They may view him as an angry and vengeful deity demanding perfection and smiting infractions. Others view him as a kind and benevolent grandfather in the sky who loves and accepts everyone, regardless of what they do—one who would never condemn anyone to hell.
But God’s description of himself is quite different than either of these extremes. He is just and does not overlook our rebellion, which carries a pretty hefty price tag. But he is also loving, merciful, and gracious, providing a way for sinful humanity to be reconciled to him and experience life in a loving covenant relationship with him.
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