And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion" (Exodus 33:19).

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but onGod who has mercy (Romans 9:14-16).

These two passages almost need to be read together to appreciate the significance of either of them.

In the Exodus passage God was responding to Moses' request to know God (cf. Exodus 33:13) and to be shown God's glory (cf. Exodus 33:18).

With respect to God's glory, God made all His goodness pass before Moses (cf. Exodus 33:19), but Moses was not allowed to see God's face directly on pain of death (cf. Exodus 33:20-23). 

With respect to God's Name, two declarations were made. First, God said to Moses,

I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion (Exodus 33:19).

Then, when God actually revealed His glory to Moses, He 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 33:6-7).

Both declarations dealt with the same theme, namely, God's grace and compassion; however, they highlight different aspects of that theme. The first declaration proclaimed God's sovereignty to bestow His grace and compassion on whomever He chose. The second declaration proclaimed God's justice in both bestowing grace and compassion on some and punishing others. Therefore, what Moses came to understand about God's Name was that God was completely sovereign and totally just.

Interestingly, while the second declaration spoke more to God's justice, in Romans Paul cited the first declaration in arguing for the justice of God:

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy (Romans 9:14-16).

How should we understand this? Is it not that God's justice is intimately connected with God's sovereignty?

If we look carefully at the second declaration, we will see something peculiar. God says that He "forgives iniquity, transgression and sin" but at the same time says he will punish "the iniquity of the fathers". Which is it? Will God forgive or will He punish? The text seems to suggest both. So then on what basis will God determine who He will forgive and who He will punish? 

It will be on the basis of His sovereignty. The text suggests that all are deserving of punishment, because all are guilty of inquity, transgression and sin (cf. Romans 3:9-18,23), but God will be gracious and compassionate toward some in keeping with His sovereign choice (cf. Romans 9:16). This is how God is both just and sovereign at the same time. 

Friends, I am not arguing for election vs. free will here, though the former is true and the latter is a lie. I am arguing for a proper understanding of God, who has Himself declared His Name to be sovereign and just. If you have a different view of things, you may find yourself not simply to be thinking wrong about the nature of salvation but also worshipping a different God.

Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst... and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods (Exodus 34:12,16).

Keep this command in mind. The breaking of this command would lead to the near destruction of the people of Israel. It would not be because of their military weakness but because of their moral weakness that they would fail time and time again to conquer all of the Promised Land of Canaan.

There is a lesson here. How do we measure success? Is it Word-based and heart-based or is it outcome based? Too often we look at outward measures of success, but God looks at the heart:

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

God does not care how many retreats you have attended, how often you have gone forward in revival meetings, whether you lift your hands in worship or even how much you have given in offering. God cares whether you obey His Word from your heart. This requires just too things: (1) Knowing God's Word and (2) Doing God's Word. These are the main things. Everything else is an accessory or an encumbrance.

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Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God (Exodus 34:23-24).

Isn't this great! If the men are all to leave their land to worship God at the temple in Jerusalem three times a year, you can imagine what their number one fear might be. They would be leaving their homes, wives, and children defenseless while they are away. But what does God promise them here?! He tells them that no one will want to take advantage of them while they are away celebrating the LORD's prescribed festivals. Now, they would have to trust God for this, but don't you think that the God, whom they saw bring the ten plagues against Egypt and destroy the entire Egyptian army and Pharoah in the Red Sea, could protect their lands and families while they were away from them?

Don't we Christians have a similar promise in the New Testament?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:31-33).

We marvel at how the Israelites did not trust God and disobeyed Him, but do we trust God for the things that He promised to give us? He promised to meet our needs and not to worry about this, but do we listen to Him? Don't we instead marginalize God and concern ourselves with our earthly welfare.

Case in point, when we email each other, we are quick to respond to matters of food, drink, coupons, gadgets, jokes, health, and what have you, but there is a universally sparse response to matters that involve God's "kingdom and righteousness." This should cause us to pause and reflect on our values, priorities and interests.

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Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs... so as to perform in every inventive work. He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer... (Exodus 35:30-35).

How great is this?! God commanded the construction of His tabernacle with great detail. Then God chose the craftsmen that would do it, providing them both the knowledge and skill to build it to His exact specifications. What is more, He even put into the hearts of these craftsmen the desire to teach others, so that they could pass on their God-given skills to others. Thus the saying, "What God calls His people to do, He also supplies what is necessary to do it." As Paul also writes,

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).

Peter writes in much the same way, teaching that everything we speak and do ought to be in keeping with the words and strength that God supplies, so that in everything He might receive all the praise:

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:11).

Therefore, friends, let us acknowledge that every good thought and deed, every meaningful word and action that we have, comes from God. As James declares,

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

And let us not fear any challenge that we pursue in keeping with His Word and led by His Spirit. It is not for us to pursue the outcomes that we want, but God will achieve the outcome He desires, giving us the knowledge and ability to this end.

¹³ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” 14 And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Moses hears one thing, but God says another. God will be with Moses. God will not be with the people. So Moses has to plead again. "IF your presence doesn't go with us, we don't want to go!"

It took the pleas of Moses, the earnest petition of one for the whole, to turn God from his anger. God says, "All right, but only because you have found GRACE in my sight, and I know you by name!"

And Moses says, "Please, Show me your GLORY!"

 Here is another facet of God's character. He finds grace in our earnest pleading, he has mercy on those who come to him. Any and all. Jesus told the Gentiles he brought healing to their relatives in the NT that they were not sheep but their faith brought healing to those they loved, and their faith put to shame many of the Hebrews in that day.

This is another characteristic also of Israel. They are a "stiff necked people." Again and again we see God's anger, then his mercy, in response to the sins of his chosen people. His judgement is impartial, and always fits the crime as He sees it, not as the Hebrew nations saw it. 

As a Christian, the Hebrews are an example of God's undeserved grace! Again and again we see God staying his hand against a people that just didn't seem to get it! Many still do not get it today. That is the sad part.

Instead of freedom, when God revealed another facet of his character in his only begotten son, The Israelites still clung to their religion and their traditions. The Gentiles already knew that their religion didn't work, so they hungrily accepted a GOD that came to man, instead of man imagining up God. Praise the Lord, the Prodigal was redeemed! But how God must feel for his older son, Israel, who refused the perfect gift for an empty feast that never satisfies.

We read something remarkable in Exodus 33:5-6,

For the LORD had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.

Is it not remarkable that the Israelites ceased to wear jewelry or fne clothes from the time they left Mt. Sinai? Why would God give this command? It may be because at least some of this jewelry was used in their idolatry:

So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

But what about the non-gold jewelry and the fine clothes? The removal of these things may be a physical expression of mourning and repentance:

When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes (Exodus 33:4).

While on this point, in our very self-absorbed, self-aggrandizing society, perhaps a reminder is in order. God is not concerned with our outward appearance but the inward condition of our hearts. And God does not desire us to draw attention to our outward beauty but rather by our godliness draw attention to Him:

And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

In this day and age, this instruction applies to men as well as to women. Let us not be so intent on pursuing material status in this world but rather a godly stature before God. Let us cease from envying others for their possessions and eagerly desire love, which is the greatest thing in God's eyes. Let us count our ease in life as a warning and our hardship as a blessing, because while the one can tarnish character, the other tends to develop character. 

I am reminded that in the end times, those decked out in gold, silver and costly stones and those wearing fine clothing are the ones that will be heavily judged. They are associated with the kings and merchants of the world and the great harlot. But the "fine linen" that adorns the saved will not be material luxuries but godly deeds:

... and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people (Revelation 19:7-8).

Men, let us be wary of expensive "toys," our extravagant homes, cars, and pasttimes. Women, be wary of the lure of luxurious things, whether they be clothes, jewelry or other accessories. Instead, let us consider how we can adorn God with our good deeds, being both wise and generous with money and focusing our attention on the things that direct people to God and to Christ. 

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Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 33:11).

Did you notice this in your reading? Yes, it is remarkable that God spoke to Moses as He speaks to His friend. But when Moses left, Joshua remained. Do we not see from here the root of what Joshua would become, even the man who would say in the latter years of his life, "Choose today whom you will serve. As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

This reminds me of Mary, who lingered at the feet of Jesus to learn from Him. Jesus said that between being busy and listening to the Lord's words, Mary had chosen the better part. 

Are you busy about many things? Choose today what you will prioritize. I hope that you, like Mary, like Joshua, will choose the better part.

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Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose (Exodus 33:18-19).

I have cited this passage before, but it bears repeating. Notice that God's sovereignty is intimately associated with His Name. What we are to understand is that God's absolute freedom to elect some for salvation is not a peripheral doctrine. Yes, it is true that confusion about this doctrine does not necessarily mean that a person is not saved; however, it does reveal an inadequate view of God. And that is never safe, especially in view of so many compelling passages, which I've been enumerating throughout the past year and will do moreso this year. It is time for some to set aside what they think and feel and embrace what is from God's Word.