In Exodus 34, something most amazing happened to Moses and to the nation of Israel. You will remember that at Mount Sinai the Covenant people had fallen into idolatry with the construction of the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6), and that in angry response to this incomprehensible act of spiritual treason, Moses shattered the original stone tablets upon which the Ten Commandants had been inscribed by the very finger of God (32:19). Then, after a time of fervent intercession for the wayward people and the re-issuing of the Decalogue (34:1-4), Moses encountered the Lord Himself in a glorious cloud-theophany (34:5-7):

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. Then the Lord passed by in front of him 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.”

What is truly remarkable about this appearance of the Lord, and His self-description, is His claim to be “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness.” The true meaning of these blessed terms, however, cannot be discovered in a dictionary or lexicon. In order to know what compassion, grace, patience, and kindness are (when used in reference to God) we must consider what He has done and is doing.

In the context of Exodus 34, these characteristics of the Lord are witnessed in the fact that He did not destroy those who had been unfaithful to Him! He did not give them what their sins deserved. He preserved them. He withheld His hand of judgment. He gave them yet another chance. He did not abandon them. And, most critically, He remained true to His Covenant promises despite His people’s faithlessness!

Another dramatic example of this is found in the Old Testament account of Gideon. In Judges 6 we are introduced to his amazing story. And like the events of Exodus 34, it is also one of sin, rebellion, treason, and idolatry. But we are also given another demonstration of the character of our God, and most importantly, His grace, compassion, kindness, and covenant-mercies.

So far in our sermons on Gideon, we have seen what the people have done in the sight of the Lord. They have embraced the idolatrous ways of the Canaanites (6:1-10). God’s own people have become like the lost world around them in their behavior and attitudes. As a consequence, they are suffering under the hand of God’s Fatherly discipline (6:1-6). But, the Lord does not abandon them! Again, the sinful people do not get what their sins deserve! Rather, the Lord once more sends them His Word through the prophet (6:8-10), and then raises up another leader and savior (6:11-12)!

Ultimately, the call and ministry of Gideon foreshadows the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it is in the act of sending Christ Jesus that God’s compassion, grace, patience, and kindness are most powerfully revealed. And this makes it all the more important that we understand and apply the Gideon story correctly.

Sunday’s message will be from Judges 6:11-24, with special focus upon verses 11-12. Take some time this weekend to read the entire sixth chapter, and then let’s pray that when we come together in worship, the Word of the Lord will instruct and richly bless us, and that we will see and more fully understand the One who has saved us in His Beloved Son.