God's Character
God's Character • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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3 Nov 24
God’s Character. Exodus 32:9 - 34:7
Turn to Jonah chapter 5. The first person to find Jonah 5 gets a prize. Ok, there is no chapter 5, but there is an Exodus 32 and However, in chapter 4, Jonah referenced Yahweh’s character. Jonah was angry because he knew God was merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness, not willing to destroy. God takes no pleasure in judgment. That, of course, comes from Exodus 34. If you remember, the main theme of Jonah is God’s mercy that extends to all people – even “those people.”
A question came up last week after church about mercy. What is mercy? Does it look different for different people in different circumstances? I thought to myself – this is worth exploring. So we’re going to spend the next several weeks, months … to explore Exodus 34 and God’s self-revelation of His character. His character is the bedrock, the foundation of our hope and salvation. Not only that, but God’s character should form our character. Therefore, I believe Eph. 5:1 should be our key verse over the next several weeks.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
The word imitate means exactly that - imitate. Not about feelings, not about circumstances, not about others per se, but it is about us – the follower of Jesus – and choosing to imitate Jesus.
So, we’ll keep that as our theme. Memorize it. Before we get to the Exo. 34 passage (34:6-7), we need to get the big picture of what was happening with Moses and Israel so we can better understand God’s character.
Background. Around 1450 BC, God led Moses and Israel out of Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea, and headed toward the Promised Land, Canaan. Along the way, Israel came to Mt. Sinai and camped out for about a year. During the first month or so, Moses went up the mountain to meet with God, receive some word, then go back down and relay the information and go back up – then down – then up. Fantastic fitness program. At one point, Moses went up to meet with God and stayed there for 40 days – he received the covenant and the law (10 Commandments).
The Israelites had no idea what had become of Moses. Gone for 40 days without a text message, email – so they began to worry. “Maybe he was eaten by a Sasquatch, abducted by aliens – who knows.” So they got anxious and fashioned a golden calf to worship. “How could they do that?” That’s what they were familiar with in Egypt – generations of slavery and pagan gods. This relationship with Yahweh was kind of a new thing. Furthermore, this is the first time any of them, except for Moses, experienced freedom. First time without chaperones. No excuse, but Moses and the elders were gone. When the cat is away …. Built this idol, one thing led to another, and it became a wild R-rated party. Probably worse than that.
Moses was on the mountain – Israel started to party – And God told Moses, “Step aside. I’m going to down there and I’m going to put an end to this.”
And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”
Put yourself in the story. You’re Moses. How would you have responded? We don’t know … but, I think I would have been like, “I’m tagging out. Go get ‘em God! I’m glad you’re dealing with them and not me! We’re only a couple of months into this and already they’re unfaithful to you! Wipe them out, God.” That’s not what Moses did. Rather than stepping aside and allowing God to annihilate them, Moses stepped in and interceded for the people. Moses pleaded with God, “Please God, don’t wipe them out – not all of them. Let me go down and handle this.”
I’m not fully convinced that God intended to destroy the entire nation. It’s my belief that somewhere in this narrative
God was possibly testing Moses to expose his character.
“Ok, Moses, if you’re going to lead My people, let’s see what you’re made of. Let’s see how well your character resembles Mine.”
So, Moses went down and found the whole place was in chaos – but not everyone. Right or wrong – don’t know – but Moses grabbed the Levites (priests), and they killed about 3,000 people that day. Don’t know how, but somewhere in here, Moses determined who was on God’s side and who wasn’t – and 3,000 were not. This is interesting – one moment Moses is interceding for mercy and forgiveness and don’t kill them. Then he saw with his own eyes the immorality and debauchery and his anger flared up and then kills 3,000. Was Moses bi-polar? Killed 3,000 but he saved about a million people. This is a head-scratcher.
So here
We have this tension between God’s justice and God’s mercy.
Moses felt it - and we feel it. Where is the balance between the two? When is it right and good to carry out justice and administer consequences? When is it right and good to extend mercy and forgiveness?
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.
But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”
“God, they deserve judgment and wrath but, if possible, give them another chance – forgive them. If not, let their punishment fall on me. Let me be the atonement. I’ll take it so they don’t have to.” 1,500 years later, the Son of the Living God, Jesus the Christ hung on a cross for our sins and said,
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
This narrative revealed the character of Moses – which reflected the character of God. A good question to ask might be,
How can we be more like Moses, interceding for others and giving mercy to those whom deserve justice?
How can we learn from Moses and stand in the gap between God and sinners (bridge builders - ambassadors)? That’s a valid question, and no doubt we could probably name a few people who need a little more prayer and mercy. However, I could also ask,
How can we be more like Moses and administer justice?
You do the crime – you do the time. That’s a valid question as well.
If you pay attention to the story, Moses did both. He interceded, gave mercy, but also administered justice. So maybe, there’s a different question we should ask.
How did Moses know when to administer justice and when to give mercy?
I think can say with confidence, we all feel the tension between justice and mercy. We all struggle with this issue of justice and mercy. When to give it, when to withhold – “you got to know when to hold ‘em; know when to fold ‘em; know when to walk away and know when to run ….”
What does justice and mercy look like in various scenarios …? When a parent knows their child is using drugs … the tension between mercy and justice. Illegal immigration – there’s tension. Homelessness – there’s tension. This tension shows up everywhere.
Back to the question - How did Moses know when to administer justice and when to give mercy? I think the answer is in chapter 33.
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.
There’s a place – this sacred space – Moses would go to be alone with God – and not just Moses, but everyone who sought God.
When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.
Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
Face to face could be literal or metaphorical – doesn’t matter – but it does mean,
Face to face signifies very close proximity, personal relationship, and intimacy.
It was in this tent of meeting that Moses met with God – and not only learned about God and how to lead Israel but became so acquainted with God that Moses developed a deep friendship with God – so deep that God’s character became Moses’ character.
Moses became so acquainted with God that he developed a deep friendship with God – so deep that God’s character became infused with Moses’ character.
Some in the Church lean heavily on justice. Others lean heavy on mercy. What we need is that balance that can only come from God’s wisdom. That wisdom only comes from meeting with God. Reading your Bible, praying, attending church – all necessary – but that doesn’t mean you’ve met with God.
Do you have a “tent of meeting?” A place and time where you go consistently go to converse with Jesus as a friend.
My “tent of meeting” is the living room couch at 5-5:30am. Talking and listening.
If you don’t have a time and place – you need one. If you do, let me ask this -
Is your time with Jesus adequate?
Do you spend adequate quality time with Jesus to sustain your lifestyle, ministry, and (________________), and so that He can develop your character?
If you’re too busy to spend quality time with Jesus, you’re too busy.
If you’re too busy to spend quality time with Jesus, then your character will be shaped by something else.
I encourage you to slow down, resist the lie of business, and build your own “tent of meeting,” if you haven’t done so. We’ll talk more about that as we go along – God’s character forming ours. But let’s close with our key verse -
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
If you don’t know Jesus Christ …
Admit. Believe. Commit.
