The Grace of Goodness

Let’s talk grammar! Adjectives and nouns. Adjectives describe, nouns identify. Adjectives describe people, places and things. Nouns identify them or name them. Adjectives describe a quality, nouns identify that quality i.e good and goodness.The adjective form is good, the noun is goodness. Applied to God - God is good; the goodness of God. A description and a quality.

Why the English Grammar lesson? It’s important to understand the difference when were talking about the fruit of grace, and remember that we are image bearers of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

God is goodness. In Exodus 33, the Israelites got impatient and went rogue while Moses was making covenant with God. After cleaning up their mess, Moses and God are having a conversation, as they did, in the Tent of Meeting. They talked like friends.

The conversation got down to this;

Moses: look favourably on me, let me know your ways so I can understand you more fully and continue in your favour, we will go nowhere unless you personally go with us.

God: I will personally go with you because I look favourably on you and I know you by name.

Moses: Then show me your glorious presence.

God: I will make all my goodness pass before you and, I will call out my name, Yhwh, before you.

And that is what God did, goodness walked past Moses.

The Grace of Goodness.

Take time to read Exodus 33-34:1-11 and experience the impact of who He is, His Grace & Goodness. Yhwh, I am, knows you by name. You are His image bearer. Goodness can be a fruit of your relationship with him.

How can these passages encourage you to pursue Him as Moses did?