The story of Moses asking God if he could see him (his glory) is fairly well known. We know how God puts him in a cleft in the rock in Mount Sinai and Moses is only able to see his backside (and Moses’ face is white when he comes down the mountain, after being in the presence of God).
When God passed before Moses, he did not say “notice my glory” or “observe my awesomeness.” Instead, he describes himself as merciful, gracious, loving, and faithful. These may be some of the most important words in the entire Bible. When asked to show his glory he reveals his loving nature.
Exodus 34:6-7 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 thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
God even predicted that he would say these words back an Exodus 33:19.
God teaches Moses—and through him, the Israelites—a deep and multifaceted theology of mercy. In Moses’ life, mercy becomes not only a personal experience but also a national revelation and a covenantal foundation. This is central to Israel’s understanding (and our understanding) of who God is. God’s mercy and grace run throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Testament with the grace offered through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We also have the balance of God’s justice along with His grace. Grace and justice is a theme seen throughout the Bible.
