March 17

Today's Reading: Exodus 34:1-35

In obedience to God's command, Moses cuts two new tablets and heads back up Mount Sinai. There God does what He had promised to do for Moses before: He reveals HIs name and He allows Moses to see HIs goodness.

Verses 6-7 comprise the most often quoted description of God's character in the Bible. In just two verses God tells Moses that in His goodness, He is both gracious and merciful and also righteous and holy at the same time. Therefore He must punish sin.

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago in the sermon, we often try to "solve" that tension by going to one extreme or the other. But God solved that tension for us in Jesus. He took the punishment we deserve for our sins upon Himself on the cross and made it possible for God to forgive our sins. Take some time today to thank Jesus for willingly suffering on your behalf to make that possible.