The Thirteen Attributes

Mercy - How And Why YHVH Forgives?

As we all know, YHVH agreed to forgive the Israelites for making the golden calf. However, Israel was required to pay a heavy price for this pardon - the removal of the Shechinah from their camp. (Ex 33:5-7)

The First Set Of Tablets:
Justice Vs. Mercy - YHVH's Attributes at Mount Sinai

As soon as Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, YHVH summoned Moses and made a conditional proposal.

"You have seen what I did to Egypt... and have brought you to Me. Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep my covenant... then you shall become for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Ex 19:5-6)

This was a two sided covenant. Should Israel accept YHVH's commandments, then they will become His special nation - a holy nation.

After Israel accepted His proposal, YHVH instructed Moses to prepare for receiving the commandments and the terms and conditions, through which they will become that "Holy Nation."

"I am YHVH your ELOHIM. You shall have no other gods besides Me. Do not bow down to them or worship them, for I, YHVH, am a jealous ELOHIM, visiting the guilt of parents upon children for those who reject Me, but showing kindness for those who love me and follow my laws." (Ex 20: 2-6)

The second commandment includes three divine attributes. Similarly, in the third commandment, we find yet another attribute.

"Do not say in vain the name of YHVH your Elohim, for YHVH will not forgive he who says his Name in vain." (Ex 20:7)

Most of these attributes seem to be quite harsh and even the kindness we do find is for followers only, not for any others. Most definitely, these are not attributes of mercy; quite the opposite, they are attributes of exacting retribution.

These attributes have their 'down side,' for they threaten immediate punishment for transgressors, but they also have their 'up side', for they assure immediate reward for those who obey.

Another attribute is found in Exodus chapter 23, where YHVH made the following promise.

"Behold, I am sending an angel before you to guard you on the way and help bring you into the Promised Land. Be careful and obey him, do not defy him - for he shall not pardon your sins, since My Name is with him... Should you obey Him and do all that I say, I will help you defeat your enemies." (Ex 23:20-24)

YHVH promised to punish those who disobey and reward (assistance in conquering the Land) those who obeyed Him. (Ex 24:12-16 and 32:1)

"YHVH told Moses, go down from the mountain for your people have sinned, they made a golden image. Now allow Me, and I will kindle my anger against them that I may destroy them." (Ex 32:7-10)

Here we find yet another divine attribute, instant anger.

The Golden Calf :
The Broken Tablets - The Covenant is Broken

According to the terms of the covenant at Mount Sinai, symbolized by the first tablets, Israel should have been punished immediately for their sin. (Ex 32:8)

What were the alternatives?

1) To destroy the nation of Israel and make a new nation from Moses (Ex 32:10) or
2) To annul the covenant and make a new one.

The first alternative was rejected by Moses' petition and his refusal to become that new nation. (Ex 32:11-13,32) Israel had to pay a price, since no mention of mercy or 'second chance' was possible according to the original covenant.

In order to ensure Israel's survival, the first covenant had to be annulled and done away with. This was the reason why Moses' broke the tablets - the symbol of that covenant. Moses realized that the only way to save the people from total destruction was to break the tablets, and hence the terms of that covenant. (Ex 32:15-20)

This was also reflected in YHVH's instruction that Israel remove their 'jewelry', the symbol of their covenantal relationship with Him. (Ex 33:5-6)

Israel was saved from death. However, they were left in the desert without a covenant. What should they do? After all, without it, there was little purpose for their existence. Yet, with such strict conditions they could not survive!

Even though YHVH was no longer bound by the "Sinai covenant" He was still obligated to an earlier covenant in which He promised the Land of Canaan to the offspring of Abraham, and Moses reminded Him of it.

"Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your servants to whom you swore that their offspring will inherit the Land". (Ex 32:13)

This prayer led to a most incredible conclusion. Israel was allowed to continue their journey but without the Shechinah.

"YHVH said to Moses, set out from here, you and the people which you have brought out of Egypt, to the Land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but I will not go in your midst for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the journey." (Ex 33:1-3)

Would YHVH cast away His 'special' people? Was 'stiff necked' Israel doomed to enter the land without YHVH's Presence in their midst and without a covenant?

Had Moses not intervened at this point, this 'revised plan' would have been the outcome. However, Moses was unwilling to accept this. Instead, he countered by refusing to lead the people on their journey unless YHVH agreed to return His presence.

"Moses said to YHVH, unless Your Presence will go with us, do not make us leave this place. For how should it be known that Your people have gained Your favor unless You go with us." (Ex 33:12-16)

This left YHVH in a most difficult predicament and That's where Mercy entered the picture.

The New Covenant - A Covenant of Mercy

According to the terms of the original covenant, should the Shechinah remain with the people in their sinful condition, immediate death would result, for to stand in YHVH's presence, man must be perfect. How then, could anyone ever survive and be close to YHVH?

The original covenant, though ideal, was not practical and a new rule book was necessary.

Divine Mercy - Forgiveness Of Sin

"YHVH said to Moses, I will also do this thing that you request. (to return the Shechinah) I will pass all my goodness before you, and I will proclaim My name before you, and I will pardon he whom I will pardon and I will have mercy on he to whom I give mercy." (Ex 33:17-19)

Just as the original covenant required an official proclamation and ceremony, so did the new covenant. YHVH commanded Moses to ascend Mount Sinai one more time to receive the second set of tablets.

The laws of the covenant remained the same, but the conditions were amended with YHVH's 'goodness and mercy' by a special proclamation.

"YHVH came down in a cloud and passed before him and proclaimed: YHVH, YHVH, merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." (Ex 34:5-8)

After confirming this covenant - "Behold, I make a covenant" YHVH inscribed the Ten Commandments on new tablets as the physical symbol of this new covenant - the Covenant of Mercy. (Ex 32:29-30, 34:10)

Upon hearing the proclamation of these attributes, Moses immediately made a request that YHVH return His Shechinah to the people even though they were unworthy.

"Moses hastened to bow down and said, If I have indeed gained favor in Your eyes, let YHVH go in our midst, even though they are stiff necked people, and You shall pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for Your own." (Ex 34:8-9)

YHVH's Mercy allowed the Shechinah to dwell within Israel even though they were unworthy. However, it did not guarantee automatic forgiveness; rather, it was a gift to enable the possibility of forgiveness. As Exodus 33:19 says: I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Summery - The Thirteen Attributes

Merciful instead of Jealous

Slow To Anger instead of Instant Anger

Abounding Kindness for all instead of Exacting

Stores His Kindness instead of Immediate Kindness

Forgiving Sin instead of Not Forgiving Sin

Sometimes Forgiving instead of Never Forgiving

Withholding Punishment instead of Extending Punishment, for up to four generations (in anticipation of repentance)

His 'Amazing Grace' Is Still Amazing, allowing unworthy and imperfect man to approach the Almighty without fear. Enjoy It!

The Purpose Of The Commandments