<Exodus 34> 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”

God – Compassionate and Just.

1) <v6>: “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”

• Our assurance lies in God’s attributes, not human factors.

2) <v7>: “yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished”

• <Jer 46:28> Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord.
  “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
• God does not forgive sin by overlooking it. 
• Despite God’s mercy, sin will always have consequences.

3) Mercy and justice of God are not opposing attributes.

• The cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet.
• God is just and the justifier of sinners.
  • <Ro 3> 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished —26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you.11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

God’s Name is Jealous <v14>.

• Can there be a “godly” jealousy?
• Paul: “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.” <2 Co 11:2>
• IVP commentary: The word “jealous” represents a determination to defend zealously and aggressively that which rightfully belongs to Him from those who would lay claim to it.

·    <Deut 4:24> For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

• His jealousy can also be our comfort.
  • Only jealous of those whom He loves.
  • God will zealously protect those who belong to Him.

Be careful of snares.

12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.

15 “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. 16 And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.

• What concrete steps can we take today to purge idolatry?
• Besides not doing wrong things, must also do the right things.
• <Ex 34:17-26>: Maintain undivided devotion to God.
  • Do not make any idols <v17>
  • Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread <v18>
  • Consecrate all firstborn and firstfruits to God <v19-20, 26>
  • Observe the Sabbath and sacred festivals <v21-24>

Reflection:

1. God is compassionate yet won’t leave the guilty unpunished. Do you find God’s mercy and justice conflicting? How does knowing these attributes of God impact how you respond to Him?
2. Do you think you have made God jealous in any way (any recent examples)? On the other hand, do you find comfort in God’s jealousy over you?
3. How can you concretely avoid snares that may spoil your relationship with God? What active steps to take or things to tear down?