“Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and GRACIOUS, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, FORGIVING iniquity and transgression and sin.”
Exodus 34:5-7
GRACE- Divine, unmerited FAVOUR shown to fallen, erring human beings; God has an inexhaustible capacity to forgive and to bless. God is gracious in action.
As we dive into the profound text of Scripture in Exodus 34:5-7, what audacious truths about God’s grace are being unveiled? Are we truly ready to grasp the relentless nature of His mercy and the depths of His compassion that challenge our understanding?
God is incredibly gracious, yet I question whether most of us truly grasp what that means. It’s precisely because of His overwhelming mercy and grace that we are afforded the chance to escape the clutches of sin in Jesus. Grace is not just a word; it resides in “His name“, embodying His character; it’s the essence of who He fundamentally is.
Despite this, we are undeniably a stiff-necked people, Exodus 34:9. If it weren’t for God’s boundless grace, we’d be utterly hopeless in this sinful world, for it is written;
For God so LOVED the world that HE GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through His Son, would be saved.
John 3:16-17
What else is this, except for grace— divine favour shown to fallen, erring humanity.
Sadly, humanity, in its natural condition, stands alienated—estranged in relationship, disposition, and standing before God. This separation is not merely emotional but moral and spiritual, leaving people unable to restore the relationship on their own.
Yet, by divine initiative—not by any act of our own— God acts to reverse this condition. Without being prompted or assisted by human merit, He intervenes to transform that state of alienation into one of unmerited acceptance. This acceptance is not earned or deserved; rather, it is granted freely, grounded in God’s character rather than human worthiness.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of [your] works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8
This gracious acceptance then creates the necessary foundation for reconciliation. Where there was distance and hostility, there is now the possibility of restored relationship—”peace with God,” renewed communion, and alignment with His purposes— See Romans 5:1. But the movement does not stop at reconciliation alone. It extends further into redemptive usefulness: those who have been accepted are not merely restored but are also brought into meaningful participation in God’s redemptive work. Their lives are reoriented, not only reconciled but also repurposed, becoming instruments through which God continues His work of restoration in the world.
In this way, the entire process—from alienation to acceptance, from reconciliation to usefulness—remains rooted in and sustained by God’s initiating grace.
Therefore, having come to this deeper understanding of God’s gracious nature granted to us undeserving sinners—unmerited favour shown to fallen, erring human beings—, let us not “frustrate the grace of God“, receiving “the grace of God in vain”, Galatians 2:21, 2 Corinthians 6:1, for as it is written, “Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?“ I say, “Certainly not! How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer in it? Romans 6:1-2
Think upon these things, Reader.
LOUD CRY COMPENDIUM
Loud Cry Compendium 