And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. (Exodus 34:6)
God is a good God. The Scriptures reveal that God saw that what He created in Genesis was good. It is easy for those who do not understand the word of God to question why bad things happen to people. Many have gone further to blame God for being responsible for the bad things. These people argue that since God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He should have known that evil was coming and should have deployed His power to stop it. Others even go to the extent of blaming God for being responsible for the creation of evil in the world.
Our theme verse says, “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.” (Exodus 34:6). God introduced Himself to Moses as a good God. The evil that exists in the world today isn’t God’s fault. Man is responsible for the evil that came into the world. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit they were commanded not to, they willingly admitted evil. God, in His goodness, is committed to allowing you to receive your choice. “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance—“knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4b). God is a good God, and He does good things. It is because of the goodness of God that the Bible says, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:17-18) Man was created with a will and the power of choice. God, in His impartiality, is committed to letting man have whatever he’s chosen.
PRAYER
Precious Father, thank you, for it is your goodness that leads to salvation. Help me, oh Lord, that people may see your goodness through me in the name of Jesus Christ.
