See the Glory of the Lord
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 36:6
Let’s say someone has seriously wronged you and you say you have forgiven them. Do you treat them differently than before? Do you show kindness and goodness? If you do treat them differently, then have you truly forgiven them?
God proved His long-suffering grace and mercy by continuing to abound in goodness and truth. When Israel was trapped at the Red Sea, they didn’t pray for God’s deliverance. They accused God of bringing them out simply to die in the wilderness. Yet God was good to them and provided one of the most dramatic, miraculous rescues of all time. When they ran out of water and food instead of trusting God and calling on Him, they again complained and blamed God. Yet God abounded in goodness and provided enough food and water in the desert for them all.
For forty years the people grumbled and complained, they rebelled and disobeyed, God chastised them to teach them, but He always forgave their “iniquity and transgression and sin.” He continued to show His forgiveness and ongoing goodness to them.
Isn’t your life also abounding with God’s goodness and truth? That certainly is not because you have been so good to the Lord that He can’t help but bless you. It is only because of God’s grace and mercy, His long-suffering nature and His desire to show you His goodness and truth. Let us rejoice and praise Him for His goodness.
Dear Father, we thank you that in spite of our many sins, you bear with us, forgive us and show us Your goodness every day. We praise you for Jesus’ sake that Your “goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” Amen (Psalm 23:6)