Exodus 20:1-6: a reflection

1God spoke all these words, saying, 2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

In the giving of the commandments, God warns against idolatry and describes himself as a jealous God; but notice the striking contrast in the reach of his justice and his mercy. He speaks of visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate him; but he shows loving kindness to thousands of those who love him and keep his commandments. To a few generations, judgment; but to thousands, steadfast love. The reach of God's mercy vastly outstrips the reach of his judgment; his steadfast love extends to thousands, while his judgment reaches only to a few generations. This is a deliberate contrast, showing that God's mercy far outweighs his judgment; he is a God whose steadfast love reaches far beyond his chastening. God's steadfast love, extended to thousands, vastly outweighs his judgment, which reaches only a few generations. His mercy far exceeds his judgment in reach and abundance. God's love reaches thousands; his judgment, only a few generations.

Notice the disproportion between God's judgment and his mercy in these words. He speaks of the iniquity of the fathers reaching the children to the third and fourth generation, but of his steadfast love reaching to thousands. The contrast is deliberate and telling: judgment to a few generations, but love to thousands. This reveals something about the heart of God: that his mercy vastly outweighs his judgment, that his steadfast love reaches far beyond his chastening. God is not a God balanced evenly between wrath and mercy, still less one tilted toward wrath; his steadfast love far exceeds his judgment in reach and abundance. Even in the very commandment that warns of judgment, the emphasis falls on the far greater reach of his love. This is a comfort and a true picture of God: one whose mercy is abundant, whose steadfast love reaches to thousands, whose judgment is real but far outweighed by his love. To know God rightly is to know that his mercy far exceeds his judgment. God's steadfast love outweighs his judgment many times over. His love is the greater and abounding thing.

That is worth resting in, for God's steadfast love, extended to thousands, vastly outweighs his judgment, which reaches only a few generations. We can imagine God as chiefly a God of judgment, quick to punish and slow to show mercy; but even in the commandment that warns of judgment, God shows his steadfast love reaching to thousands while his judgment reaches only a few generations. His mercy far outweighs his judgment. God's heart is abundant in steadfast love, far more than in chastening. When you fear God as chiefly a God of judgment, remember that his steadfast love reaches to thousands, vastly outweighing his judgment. Rest in the truth that God's steadfast love, extended to thousands, vastly outweighs his judgment, which reaches only to the third and fourth generation, as God, even in warning against idolatry, showed loving kindness to thousands of those who love him while visiting iniquity only to a few generations; for God is not chiefly a God of judgment, quick to punish, but one whose mercy far exceeds his judgment in reach and abundance, whose steadfast love reaches to thousands, so that even in the commandment that warns of judgment the emphasis falls on the far greater reach of his love, and to know God rightly is to know that his mercy vastly outweighs his chastening.

Lord, in the giving of the commandments, you warn against idolatry and describe yourself as a jealous God; but let me notice the striking contrast in the reach of your justice and your mercy. You speak of visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate you; but you show loving kindness to thousands of those who love you and keep your commandments. To a few generations, judgment; but to thousands, steadfast love. The reach of your mercy vastly outstrips the reach of your judgment. This is a deliberate contrast, showing that your mercy far outweighs your judgment. Show me the disproportion between your judgment and your mercy in these words. You speak of the iniquity of the fathers reaching to the third and fourth generation, but of your steadfast love reaching to thousands. The contrast is deliberate and telling: judgment to a few generations, but love to thousands. This reveals something about your heart: that your mercy vastly outweighs your judgment, that your steadfast love reaches far beyond your chastening. You are not a God tilted toward wrath; your steadfast love far exceeds your judgment in reach and abundance. Even in the commandment that warns of judgment, the emphasis falls on the far greater reach of your love. Let me rest in that, for your steadfast love, extended to thousands, vastly outweighs your judgment, which reaches only a few generations. I can imagine you as chiefly a God of judgment, quick to punish and slow to show mercy; but even in the commandment that warns of judgment, you show your steadfast love reaching to thousands. When I fear you as chiefly a God of judgment, help me remember that your steadfast love reaches to thousands, Lord, vastly outweighing your judgment, for your heart is abundant in steadfast love far more than in chastening.