But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

— Psalm 86:15

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

— 2 Peter 3:9

For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

— Psalm 30:5

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unfailing love?

–Micah 7:18

6 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

7 maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished;

— Exodus 34:6-7

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Only our merciful God, who rules and reigns over all, can accomplish His perfect justice. God’s justice rises from His pure and perfect love for people because humans are created in God’s image and after His likeness. A loving God can never remain indifferent to human trafficking, adultery, oppression, and injustice. These things rightly outrage God. Revelation tells of a coming day when God will right every wrong and vindicate His people. the Bible is clear: God is allow to anger and merciful. He delays His justice upon the wicked, allowing time for people to repent. God’s righteous anger is momentary, but His love endures forever. God’s justice and mercy perfectly express His abiding love for a world that desperately needs Him.

Many wonder how God can be both merciful and just. As God revealed Himself to Moses that He, the Lord, is compassionate and gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. God never cease being merciful, but neither can He be indifferent toward evil. God always remains forgiving. Even so ,He never condones sin. Rather, He welcomes repentant sinners into His loving arms. God’s justice and mercy are on full display throughout Scripture. These seemingly contradictory attributes of God operate perfect harmony. God can perfectly execute His justice against sin and extend mercy to sinners who receive salvation in Christ.