July 18 Sermon Discussion Guide
Sunday we looked at the apparent tension in God’s character as God explicitly discloses some of his most important attributes in Exodus 34:6-7:
6 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, 7 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.”
We find five incredible, astonishing, undeniably good attributes of God in verse 6 and the first half of verse 7. But as it continues, it seems that the rest of verse 7 might directly contradict what comes before. How does a forgiving God also punish the great grandchildren for the sins of their ancestors? And what about the 5th generation? Are they off the hook due to luck of the draw?
These are arguably the most popular verse in the Old Testament and among the most important realities of God’s character for the Hebrew people. These verses are quoted, alluded to, cross-referenced dozens of times throughout the rest of the Old Testament. And those recurrences provide a great place to begin understanding how the earliest audience of Exodus might have grappled with this apparent tension.
In Numbers 13 and 14 we find the people of Israel at the edge of the promised land, instructed to send spies to assess the situation. Ten spies return with an honest, heartbreaking assessment: the land is great, but the people are strong and their cities are fortified. We should just return to Egypt and try to restart life there. God is not happy with this lack of faith and says he’s done with the people. Well, Moses pleads with God, no remember who you told us you were. He quotes the harsh part of Exodus 34 about punishment, but then proceeds in Numbers 14:19: “In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people.”
Even though you have promised punishment, will you forgive?
Secondly, in Deuteronomy 5 as Moses retells the story and repeats the 10 Commandments, as the basis for the second commandment he quotes Exodus 34 in explaining: 9: for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Instead of pointing to some notion of generational curses, is it possible that this is pointing to God’s consistency from generation to generation. I am just. I am merciful. This is how I am with you. This is how I will be with every generation to come.
Questions for reflection as we navigate this apparent tension:
In what ways is this tension between mercy and justice encouraging or discouraging?
Imagine a world without justice. Imagine a world without mercy. Discuss.
Does it impact your faith to recognize that God’s character does not change? How?
Prayer for the Week
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.