Sometimes when I read the Bible, we can wonder if God is a God of Love or a God of Justice. We can read the judgments in the Old Testament. In fact, we might even read that He is a God of rough justice! Then we read the New Testament and we think, "Hey—I like this Jesus better! He's the God of Love!" But God is both. We can never really know God completely on this side of Heaven, but let's consider an Old Testament passage that helps us to understand Him a little bit better.

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 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.” (Exodus 34:5-7)

The first part of the passage tells us lovely things about God. He's compassionate. He's gracious. He's slow to anger. He abounds in steadfast love. He forgives wickedness, anger and rebellion. He's the God of Love! But then the Scriptures say, "Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents…" What? At this point you might reasonably ask, Is God the God who forgives sin or the God who judges sin to extended generations? Here's what I think: to those who reject the work of Jesus and turn their back on His grace, compassion and forgiveness, they receive His judgment. And if their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren also reject Him, judgment comes to them as well. But that's not what He wants! To those who embrace the grace Jesus has offered us in His death, burial and resurrection, compassion, steadfast love, forgiveness, and faithfulness are theirs in Christ. How about you? Have you turned to Jesus yet? Our gracious God has made His forgiveness, compassion, and love available to you, right now, in this very moment! God is the God who wants you to turn to Him...and that is very Good News!