What Does It Mean That God Is Gracious?

The surprising picture of favor and delight in Exodus 34

By Pastor John Erickson

Have you ever given someone grace, but you didn't exactly enjoy doing it?

Maybe someone showed up late again. You decided not to make a big deal about it, but the look on your face probably communicated a few things. Fine. I'll let it go this time.

Now imagine that person is late the next time too. Suddenly your generosity feels a little less generous.

I think that's one of the reasons we have a hard time believing what the Bible says about the grace of God. We understand giving someone a break. But what if God's grace is more than reluctantly deciding not to punish us?

What if he actually delights in showing us favor?

The Word We Think We Understand

In Exodus 34:6-7, God tells Moses what he's like. He describes himself as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, and committed to both forgiveness and justice.

We've probably heard the word gracious a thousand times. A gracious host. A graceful dancer. Somebody who smiles and makes everyone feel welcome.

Those are good qualities. But the Hebrew word behind this description is richer. Channun, often translated "gracious," is related to chen-a word associated with favor, delight, and the gift someone extends to another person.

Now, whenever we're talking about ancient languages, it's worth being careful. One English definition won't perfectly capture every use of a word. But looking at its different appearances gives us a fuller picture.

And in this case, a fascinating picture begins to emerge.

Favor Can Be Beautiful

In Psalm 45, beautiful speech is associated with grace. In Proverbs, grace can be pictured like a lovely ornament. You notice something excellent, and you're drawn toward it.

Have you ever heard someone speak and found yourself completely absorbed? Maybe a musician or poet creates something so beautiful you don't want the moment to end. The beauty elicits a response.

That's part of the picture here. Chen is more than someone technically doing you a favor. It can involve pleasure or delight.

In Esther's story, she approaches a king seeking favor on behalf of her people. She cannot command the outcome. She needs a gift she has no power to demand.

Now carry that idea back to Exodus.

Look at When God Says He's Gracious

This is what makes the setting so important.

The Israelites have been rescued from Egypt. They've watched God provide and make a covenant with them. And then, while Moses is receiving God's instructions, they build a golden calf and worship it.

That's not a tiny misunderstanding. It's a stunning act of disloyalty.

If you were writing God's introduction at that moment, what words would you choose? I might start with "furious" or "thoroughly disappointed."

But when God reveals his character to Moses, he speaks first of compassion and grace.

That doesn't mean the golden calf doesn't matter. The story takes sin seriously. The point is that their failure isn't the only thing we need to know about God.

Moses pleads for God to remain with his people. They don't have a compelling résumé. They can't point to their excellent behavior. They have nothing to bargain with.

They need grace.

And God continues toward them in covenant mercy.

This Is Difficult to Believe About God

Work has taken me to different hotels. At a DoubleTree, I have received a warm chocolate-chip cookie at check-in. It is a lovely welcome. I am not against the cookie.

But I do not imagine the person behind the counter took one look at me and my cargo shorts and thought, There is something so delightful about this man that I simply must give him a cookie. It is a hospitality practice.

That picture helps me notice the difference between a courteous gesture and personal delight. God is not merely following a customer-service policy when He is gracious toward us.

I think we're accustomed to relationships that run on transactions. I'll be kind to you because you've been kind to me. I'll give you another chance because you haven't used up too many already.

But what happens when we're the person who has used up the chances? When we know we've behaved badly? When we don't even have a very good excuse?

I sometimes imagine coming to God and saying, "I know I've been a complete turd about this, but would you help me?"

And then I expect him to respond like I would: "Seriously? After what you did?"

The beauty of this passage is that God doesn't have my small, exhausted supply of grace.

His willingness to show favor comes out of his character. God doesn't stop being gracious on the day I discover I'm not very good at following him.

That is not permission to keep hurting people and treating repentance like a technicality. Grace doesn't erase the need to take responsibility. In fact, receiving grace should move us to become more gracious ourselves.

But it does mean we can approach him honestly instead of pretending we've earned a seat at the table.

Jesus Makes Grace Visible

The New Testament uses the Greek word charis to speak about grace. John describes Jesus as full of grace and truth (John 1:14), and later says that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

Think about the way Jesus treats people who have failed. He doesn't flatter them. He doesn't pretend their choices are harmless. But he moves toward them.

A tax collector finds welcome. A disciple who denied him finds restoration. People who were sure they had no business getting close to God discover that Jesus has made room for them.

In him, grace isn't an abstract definition. It's a person who meets us where we are.

So here's my question: When you think about God looking at you, do you imagine a reluctant supervisor deciding whether you've caused too many problems? Or do you remember the God who describes himself as gracious?

You can bring him the truth about yourself. The messy parts too.

His grace is not a reward for pretending you don't need it.