"O How Great His Goodness Is!"-Additional Facets of Jehovah's Goodness

Jehovah's goodness involves more than generosity.  God told Moses:  "I  myself shall cause all my goodness to pass before your face, and I will declare the name of  Jehovah before you."  Later the account says:  "Jehovah went passing by before his face and declaring: 'Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.' " (Exodus 33:19, 34:6) So Jehovah's goodness embraces a number of fine qualities.  Let us consider just two of these. 

"Gracious." This quality tells us much about Jehovah's manner of dealing with his creatures.  Instead of being brusque, cold, or tyrannical, as is often true of the powerful, Jehovah is gentle and kind.  For example, Jehovah said to Abram:  "Raise your eyes, please, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward."  (Genesis 13:14)  Many translations omit the word "please."  But Bible scholars note that the wording in the original Hebrew includes a word particle that changes  the statement from a command to a polite request.  There are other, similar instances.  (Genesis 31:12; Ezekiel 8:5)  Imagine, the Sovereign of the universe  says "please"  to mere humans!  In a world where harshness, pushiness, and rudeness are so common, is it not refreshing to contemplate the graciousness of our God, Jehovah? 

"Abundant in . . .truth."  Dishonesty has become the way of the world today.  But the Bible reminds us:  "God is not a man that he should tell lies."  (Numbers  23:19) In fact, Titus 1:2 says:  that "God . . . cannot lie."  His is far too good for that.  Thus, Jehovah's promises are completely reliable; his words, always sure of fulfillment. Jehovah is even called "the God of truth."  (Psalm 31:5)  Not only does he refrain from telling falsehoods, but he dispenses an abundance of truth.  He is  not closed, guarded, or secretive; rather, he generously enlightens his faithful servants from his boundless store of wisdom.  He even teaches them how to live by the truths he dispenses  so that they may go on walking in the truth."  (3 John 3)  In general, how should Jehovah's goodness affect us individually? 

Next time: "O How Great His Goodness Is!"-"Become Radiant Over the Goodness of Jehovah" 

From the book: Draw Close to Jehovah