Have you ever tried to sum up God in just a simple paragraph? Honestly, the idea of trying boggles my mind and makes my head hurt. And yet, in Exodus 34, the Lord Himself graciously tells us exactly who He is. Many of us who grew up in the church can almost quote the first part: God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth. He keeps lovingkindness for thousands, forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin! It’s an incredible description of who God is, and one that I have underlined in my Bible to draw my attention back to the truths listed over and over again. But there is a second half to the Lord’s description of Himself that we often skip over, where God says He will by no means clear the guilty and will visit the consequences of sin to the third and fourth generation. Honestly, that part is not underlined in my Bible because at first glance, it makes me a bit uncomfortable. It feels confusing—almost like a contradiction. But if we slow down, we realize something beautiful: God’s justice is not in conflict with His love. His justice flows from His love. He is on a mission to remove sin and heal our broken world. And that is good news! Yet, the question remains: how can God be both merciful and just? How can He both punish and forgive?
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