Exodus 34:6

The Lord passed by. As promised in ch. 33:22, 23. The name of the Lord stands for His character, here described as consisting of three fundamental qualities — mercy, justice, and truth. Greatest emphasis is placed upon mercy because God’s relationship to us is based upon it (1 John 4:7-12). It was particularly important at this time when divine favor had been forfeited and would not have been restored, except for His mercy. There are six different ways in which the Lord manifests love for His people. He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” A more complete declaration of His regard and love for sinners would be difficult to imagine. When the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush He declared Himself to be the “I am,” or, “the self-existent One,” thus emphasizing the distinct difference between Him and all other gods.

In the present state of Israel’s sorrow and subdued spirit (Ex. 33:4-6), something additional was needed to impart to them hope and assurance. Of itself the law could not be “merciful and gracious.” Its sole stress was upon rectitude. There was needed a supplementary revelation of the gracious character of God to Moses. In the revelation of the character of God to Moses, Sinai proclaims not only the divine law but also divine grace. This fact proves unfounded the popular notion that Sinai stands for justice but not mercy. Sinai’s exalted proclamation of grace by no means annulled the law and thwarted divine justice; rather it clarified the relationship of each to the other. In a later crisis Moses reminded God of the balance between justice and mercy proclaimed upon this occasion (Num. 14:11-19).

Is this same unchanging character of God that gives poor, helpless sinners hope of eternal life today (Ps. 103:8-14; 145:8; Jer. 29:11; 31:3). Inasmuch as there can be no trust in one who is not true, God qualifies for our trust by being “abundant” in “truth.” Truth lies at the root of moral character; it is the precise opposite of hypocrisy (Ps. 108:4; 117:2; John 14:6; James 3:14).