Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” (Exodus 34:6–7)

Expansive descriptions of God’s character are not more succinct anywhere in Scripture as in our verse today. The Lord opened Himself to Moses for an intimate insight into what He is really like, and in the recording of that revelation in Scripture we are privileged to listen in over Moses’ shoulder. This was not a theology lesson to be memorized for future examination. Rather, “the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex 33:11). I believe this is the kind of communication God intended in the Garden of Eden, when He came down to walk “in the garden in the cool of the day” to spend time with Adam and Eve. He always wants to reveal Himself to His image bearers but will only do so when we are in right relationship with Him. Moses had that with God, an open-faced, transparent friendship, as God called it.

Everything Moses learned about God was true of Him back in the Garden but was obscured by sin. God’s compassion and grace are seen in His provision of a future seed that would crush Satan—though Adam and Eve heard of this in cryptic form (Gen 3:14-15). They were driven from the Garden, a gracious move of God to keep them from eating of the tree of life and living forever in a fallen state (Gen 3:22-23).

The backstory to Moses’ receiving this revelation of God’s character was the formation of the second set of the tablets of the Law. Moses had shattered the first set, made by God (Ex 24:12, 32:16), upon seeing the licentious idolatry the people of Israel had come to engage in while he was on Mt. Sinai receiving the Law (Ex 32:19). Moses returned to God and pleaded on behalf of the people for forgiveness. But, if God would not forgive, Moses offered to be blotted out of “Your book which you have written” (Ex 32:32). In other words, Moses would not go further in following God if the people were wiped out by God’s anger. Furthermore, Moses would not continue on without God’s presence (Gen 33:15). He would rather die instead. Having demonstrated that Moses had a heart like God’s, the Lord said, “You have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name” (Ex 33:17).

Lord, help me love Your people and not reject them because of their sin.