The Devotional - 03

The Devotional

Comment:

Ever walk into a place and feel a lack of compassion? My example is an experience many years ago. (If I were of Indian descent I would have said, many moons ago) Anyway my experience was going aboard an Aircraft Carrier, the name of the Carrier slips my mind. I suppose; had the ship showed grace and compassion toward me, I might have remembered. The point, is that with so many people; everyone seemed to be void of caring or showing any mercy to help you find your way. They did not look at you as a stranger, but just another person. Smaller ships, (whose names I remember) like the USS Gearing, a Destroyer or the USS Hamilton, a Submarine had compassion. The people onboard readily knew that you are not a part of the crew and if you are a new member onboard they would quickly reach out to show you around.

Challenge:

Exodus 33:19 is packed tightly with the goodness of God. If you simply read over the verse like so many do, you will miss the joy that Moses must have felt at that moment in time a few thousand years ago. Only days before God was very willing to destroy the Israelites for the golden calf incident (Exodus 32). Many in the world around us are worshipping something false, and with God in the midst of us (remember: God is omnipresent). He is ignored.

Moses had been an eye witness of the wrath of God and now he says to the LORD “please, show me your goodness” in verse 18. And God replies yes, “I will make all of my goodness pass before you” – “I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you” “I will be gracious and I will have compassion on whom I will”. Three distinct statements that identify the abundance of God’s Character. If we ever get to it… this is the main subject! The Character of God.

I do not know at this point how long it will take to draw out the spiritual joy and blessing found here, but I do know that it will be time well spent if you follow along. For example; can you and I for a moment, seek to understand the peace that passes all understanding that Moses is feeling toward God at this time. God was taking the time to help Moses mediate on the goodness of God and this reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s message to the Philippians in chapter 4:1-9.

How quickly can people fall from the goodness of God? Turn your back on His Written, Living Word and in the shortness of one week you will “stink” with the sin of the world that permeates the darkness of a dead and decaying world. This can happen with one individual, it can happen to a small group of people too, notice Revelation 3:1-6 which explains this much better than I might.

We are living in dangerous times, those of us who look to God for His goodness will see His Name that it is wonderful, Counselor and Mighty God and we will experience His grace and compassion. Those who do not; will see a white horse whose Rider is known by the saints as “Faithful and True, who in Righteousness, judges and makes war. His Head is adorned with “many” crowns. Have you ever thought, why so many crowns? I have and we will take a look. All of this ties in joyfully with Exodus 33.