27 July 2021

The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed,
‘The Lord, the Lord,
a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
yet by no means clearing the guilty,
but visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
and the children’s children,
to the third and the fourth generation.’

Exodus 33:7-11,34:5-9,28, NRSV

In our previous reading from the Book of Exodus, we heard about how the people had broken their Covenant with God. In his anger at the people’s idolatry in worshipping the Golden Calf, Moses had broken the tablets inscribed with the commandments that had been given to him on the mountain. Today we see that Moses did not give up on his people and was prepared to try again on their behalf. He ascended the mountain again, possibly feeling embarrassed at the behaviour of the people and uncertain of what he might achieve for them. Moses could not have expected what actually did happen. To the dejected Moses, God revealed the fullness of his name and nature. Previously, Moses was only allowed to know God as “I am”, but there on the mountain, Moses comes to know God in a more personal way. His God is a God who judges with mercy and whose steadfast love and faithfulness knows no bounds.

• • How do you suppose Moses felt on hearing this revelation?
  • How do you think God deals with our sins and transgressions?

Bring before God your own need for forgiveness, remembering that God’s promise of love and mercy.

Image – J. H. Hartley, “Moses Praying on Mt. Pisgah”  (1922)