Hi
This is part 2 of the Bible Study from last night.
First, God is compassionate. The word compassion refers to God's identification with His people. Compassion is similar to empathy or sympathy. A compassionate person is able to enter emotionally and psychologically into the experiences of another person. God cares about our situation and responds to our needs.
Second, God is gracious. The notion of God being the source of grace is not limited to the New Testament. God freely gives us what we do not deserve. Grace is of course, most evident in God's offering us salvation through the death of His Son Jesus on the cross.
Third, God is slow to anger or "longsuffering." The Hebrew word behind this phrase literally means "long nosed" based on the image of an animal, such as a horse, snorting when it is upset. In other words, God is patient with His people. He gives His rebellious people many chances to repent of their sins.
Fourth, God is marked by faithful love. The Hebrew word translated here stresses loyalty to the covenant relationship. The Israelites were often fickle and unfaithful in their dealings with God, but He remained faithful.
Fifth, God is characterized by truth. God does not lie or deceive His people.He is the source of all truth. Since we live in a world where deceit, lying, and duplicity abound, Christians can let the truth of God's revelation guide us in theology and ethics.
The description of God was widely known in Hebrew history, being often quoted or paraphrased in the Old Testament. For instance, when Jonah tried to explain to God why he did not want to preach to the people of Nineva, he reffered to God's description of Himself.
Although these 5 characteristics are all positive, some readers will be troubled by the emphasis on God's punishing of later generations. What does it mean that God will punish to the third and fourth generations? One wise interpretation is that these later generations are punished for continuing in the same sinful behavior as their ancestors. These later generations might even be tempted to think they can get away with the same sins that their ancestors commited.
Moses response to this further revelation of God's character was to bow down and worship God. Many people today resist God, or reject Him because they do not understand His goodness and justice. They see God as arbitrary and unjust. Since Christians know God's name and nature, as revealed in His Word, we should gladly offer our praises to Him and serve Him daily.
Next weeks Bible Study will be;
WHAT DOES GOD THE FATHER DESIRE FOR ------------------------------------US
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:)
Always remember, with God al things are posible.
1|1|thank you!|Skaytes|skaytez@gmail.com|09:34:40|12/16/2009|
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2|1|Thank you so very much|WillaD|wila111@bellsouth.net|17:47:07|12/16/2009|
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Willa 3|1|Thanks so much! Looking foward to next week|blessedx5|I_am_blessedx5@yahoo.com|18:37:02|12/16/2009|
God bless you