The Divine Name

Prepare for some Exodus love! We're digging into a few short verses with some major impact for the rest of the semester in class, and I just can't withhold what I'm seeing! It's who God declares himself to be after a faithful servant, Moses, asks to see God's glory in Exodus 34:5-7.

In my initial observation, I've loved noticing that what God needs us to know about his glory is that it is FOR US. He doesn't emphasize his majesty or holiness or that he's Creator of the world or about his throne or about his eternal being. Instead, he describes his glory and his divine name by what he is for us. For me. For you. And this is what he needs us to know of himself:

• He is compassionate
• He is gracious
• He is slow to anger
• He is abounding in lovingkindness
• He is abounding in truth
• He keeps lovingkindness for thousands
• He carries and takes on iniquity
• He carries and takes on transgression
• He carries and takes on sin

(what a tri-fecta that he carries and takes on for us!)

• He punishes iniquity

(Note that he takes action on the iniquity, sin, and transgression himself pre-punishing iniquity)

WOW. This is who he is for me. This is the revelation of his glory. This is the God I serve and worship. Do you know him?

Overwhelmed... unbiblical?

Some of you may know that life's been crazy here. So crazy, in fact, that one of my friends brought us dinner tonight because our fridge is down to nothing. We had our last can of black beans for lunch today and ate Dominoes for 2 days... seriously. And there's no grocery shopping time to be had. (Don't worry, Mom-- I'll go this weekend.)

I did have a moment to read through today's entry in My Utmost for His Highest that I highly (ha) recommend. It convicted me to the degree that I've taken a break from writing a paper to write about this to you and to myself.

Here's the entry- out of context- that caught my attention:

"Begin with the circumstances we are in-- our homes, our business, our country, the present crisis as it touches us and others-- are these things crushing us? Are they badgering us out of the presence of God and leaving us no time for worship?"...

Um... yes? Unfortunately, yes. Monday, I was blessed by a time with college students that I didn't want to have-- I wanted to be in the library-- but God really met me in worship there. And he changed my attitude from being one that lashed out at even my husband and centered me again on the reason for being here at seminary. But I'm back in this rut just a few days later, and I feel justified in my lack of attention to worship! Come on-- my fridge is empty because I don't have time to fill it. I'm justified, right?! Back to Oswald...

..."We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, consequently we get so burdened with persons and with difficulties that we do not worship God, we do not intercede. If once the burden and the pressure come upon us and we are not in the worshipping attitude, it will produce not only hardness toward God but despair in our own souls."

Whew. No wonder I was crying last night over my Interpreting the New Testament paper. Come on, Megs. And I encourage you, too, to come with me back into a posture of worship that we might be able to surrender to God our burdens and pressures. I hope this song helps lead you into God's presence now.

God speaks!

Perhaps this should not be profound to me, but it is!

The first action God takes in Scripture is to speak. And by speaking, things are created.

Exodus 33 says that God spoke to Moses face-to-face, as to a friend.

In contrast, Scripture says that idols have eyes but do not see, mouths but do not speak (Isaiah 44).

We were challenged in class to consider how often we are like the Israelites, desiring God to act more like a golden calf. Be regal, in a place of honor, receiving our worship and be a point of reference for all the prayers we lift up. But God is not like the idols. He is LIVING, and he speaks. Are we listening? Do you expect him to talk to you?

Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice -Jesus John 18:37