October 4, 2022 The Character of God - Gracious

 

Today, we continue to look at the second character of God as described in Exodus 33:16, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness..."

What does it mean for God to be gracious? Let’s take a look at the Hebrew word for grace, khen and the Greek word for grace, kharis.

Today's YouTube video is The Character of God - Grace by Bible Project

One meaning of khen is “delightful or favorable.” Things or people that naturally attract delight or favor (like jewelry or kindness) can be said to have khen, but something unattractive or someone undeserving can  also receive khen. For example, when someone is in debt to another and they ask for khen, they are asking for favor in spite of what they deserve. 

Extraordinary acts of khen like these require a generous spirit. And no one does this better than God himself. He shows extreme khen over and over again. In fact, this characteristic of God is so reliable that over forty times in the book of Psalms, people cry out for God’s khen when they are sick, in danger, or in exile. And biblical prophets, like Isaiah, also talk about God’s khen as they declare that God will one day show his grace by delivering all creation from death and ruin.

When we turn to the authors of the New Testament, they describe God’s khen with the Greek word kharis, which means “gracious gift.” When we are introduced to Jesus in the John’s Gospel, we are told that Jesus is God’s glorious kharis become human. God knew that humanity's destructive choices would continue to spiral into chaos, so Jesus died and rose again to give humans delight and favor instead of death and judgment. And just like any gift, all one has to do is receive it. When people humbly own their failures and ask God for grace, his response is consistent, generous, and gracious. 

Reflect:

1. How do the passages below portray God’s grace?  What key words would you underline?

2. How are we called to respond to God’s gracious character? 

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:18)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8)

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)