The Heart of God Revealed
In the midst of our sins and failures, how does Jesus feel about us? The answer lies in Exodus 34, where God reveals His heart to Moses. This passage is not just a peripheral description, but a central declaration of who God is.
Merciful and Gracious
The first words out of God’s own mouth after proclaiming His name are “merciful and gracious.” These two words are the foundation of God’s character, and they are the same qualities that Jesus uses to describe His own heart: gentle and lowly. This is not a coincidence; it’s a revelation of God’s deepest delight and highest priority.
A Startling Asymmetry
The passage in Exodus 34:6-7 is striking because mercy and love dominate, while retributive justice is acknowledged but takes a backseat. This challenges our natural assumptions about God’s character and invites us to reexamine our understanding of His heart.
A Journey of Discovery
The Christian life is a journey of letting go of our preconceived notions about God and embracing His true nature. This process takes time, sermons, and suffering, but it’s essential to understanding God’s heart. Jesus’ life and death on the cross demonstrate that God’s deepest heart is indeed “merciful and gracious, slow to anger.”
Dark Thoughts of God
The fall in Genesis 3 not only led to our condemnation and exile but also entrenched dark thoughts about God in our minds. These thoughts can lead us astray and cool our hearts towards Him. However, through multiple exposures to the gospel, we can overcome these misconceptions and discover God’s true heart.
Shown in Jesus
While Exodus 34 tells us about God’s heart, Jesus shows us that heart in action. Throughout His life, Jesus testified to His merciful and gracious nature, and His death on the cross proved it. By looking at Jesus, we can understand God’s heart and find comfort in His gentle and lowly nature.
Coming to Jesus
You don’t need to unburden or collect yourself before coming to Jesus. Your very burden is what qualifies you to come. Jesus isn’t like us; His love is but a faint echo of heaven’s cascading abundance. When you come to Him for mercy, love, and help, you’re going with the flow of His deepest wishes, not against them.
Conclusion
God’s heart is merciful and gracious, slow to anger. This truth challenges our assumptions and invites us to reexamine our understanding of God’s character. Through Jesus, we can see God’s heart in action and find comfort in His gentle and lowly nature. Come to Jesus, not in spite of your burdens, but because of them.
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