The Most Important Verse in the Bible – Exodus 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.” So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. Exodus 34:1-8 NIV To those in need, God is v. 6 Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! Isaiah 49:15 NIV The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; Psalm 103:8,13 NIV To those who don’t measure up, God is v. 6 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; Psalm 86:15-16a ESV To the rebellious, God is v. 6 He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:2-3 NIV The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:2-3 NIV To the unfaithful, God and v. 6 I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 89:1 NIV They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, Nehemiah 9:17 NIV if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 NIV To the guilty, God is V. 7 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6,7 NIV To the unrepentant, God is v.7 Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16 NIV The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. Ezekiel 18:20 NLT Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13 NIV To those who desire to see God’s glory, God is Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. Hebrews 1:1-2 NLT God is Christ-like, in Him there is no un-Christlikeness at all. Michael Ramsey Want to know what God is truly like, look at Jesus. Questions for Small Group/Personal Study Opener: Do you struggle in reading the Old Testament and trying to reconcile the portraits of God with Jesus in the New Testament? Why or why not? Go to the Source: Read Exodus 34:1-8 Which of these characteristics of God is most endearing to you? Do you struggle with the idea of God not leaving the guilty unpunished…to the fourth generation? Why or why not? Live it Out: Is there some aspect of God’s character that has been made real to you during a crisis? What about during this past week? How could your prayers this week be more driven by God’s character? How can your group join you in praying this way?