Where Mercy and Justice Meet: The Revelation of God in Exodus 34 and the Cross of Christ

"The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but by no means clearing the guilty..." — Exodus 34:6-7 (NKJV)

When God revealed Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai, He declared two powerful — and seemingly contradictory — truths:

  • He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin.
  • Yet, He will by no means clear the guilty.

At first glance, these two statements appear to be in tension. How can God both forgive sin and yet not clear the guilty?

This is one of the most profound revelations of God in Scripture — and it points directly to Jesus Christ, where mercy and justice meet perfectly.

1. The Mercy and Justice of God — A Divine Dilemma?

Throughout Scripture, God is described as abounding in mercy — ready to forgive, slow to anger, and full of love (Psalm 103:8).

Yet, God is also perfectly just and holy. He cannot overlook sin or sweep it under the carpet (Habakkuk 1:13).

"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" — Genesis 18:25

So, how can God forgive sinners and still remain just?

2. The Cross of Jesus: Where Mercy and Justice Kiss

The answer is found in the cross of Jesus Christ.

"To demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." — Romans 3:26 (NKJV)

At the cross:

  • God's justice is satisfied because sin is punished — Jesus bore our sins (1 Peter 2:24).
  • God's mercy is extended because Jesus took the penalty for us — so we are forgiven and justified.

As Psalm 85:10 says:

"Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed."

The cross is the place where God remains just and yet offers mercy to sinners.

3. The Redefinition of "The Guilty" in the New Testament

In light of the cross, who are "the guilty" that God will not clear?

According to John 3:18, it's those who reject Christ:

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Thus, those who refuse to believe in Jesus remain guilty — under God's judgment because they reject His offer of mercy.

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them." — John 3:36 (NIV)

✅ For those who believe, there is full forgiveness and peace with God (Romans 5:1).
❌ For those who reject Christ, the guilt remains, because they refuse God's way of mercy.

4. Why This Matters for Us Today

  • Confidence in God's Mercy: We can boldly approach God because Jesus has satisfied God's justice (Hebrews 4:16).
  • Urgency of the Gospel: Those who reject Christ remain guilty — which makes sharing the Gospel an urgent mission.
  • A Balanced View of God: We need not see God as torn between mercy and justice — in Christ, He is fully both.
  • A Reason to Worship: Understanding this truth should ignite our worship — just as Moses worshiped when he heard God's self-revelation.

✅ Conclusion: The Cross is God's Meeting Place of Mercy and Justice

The seeming contradiction in Exodus 34 finds its answer in Jesus:

"God is both just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus."

So today, rejoice that mercy has triumphed through the cross. And if you haven’t believed in Jesus, now is the time to come to the One who satisfies God’s justice and offers eternal mercy.

Reflections:

  1. How does knowing that God's mercy and justice meet at the cross change your view of God?
  2. Have you received God's mercy by trusting in Jesus?
  3. How can this truth shape how you share the Gospel with others?

Want to go deeper?
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