When God described His character to Moses, the first word He used was compassionate. This means He is deeply moved by the needs of his children. We see the same emotion play out in a famous scene where King Solomon judges between two women who each claim to be the mother of the same child. The true parent is the one compelled to sacrifice for the good of her child. God has this same compassion for you.
The Bible often compares God to a rock: something that is firm and unchanging. We see this same quality in a story where two faithful friends help Moses hold up his staff during a long battle. God wants us to know that He is not only compassionate, gracious, patient and loving, He is also consistent. When we trust in His goodness (even when times are hard), we show Him our faithfulness as well.
God describes himself as full of grace. This means you’re sure to receive His undeserved favor. We see an example of grace in the story of Jacob. He returns home to face his brother Esau, who years earlier Jacob had cheated out of a birthright blessing. Instead of receiving punishment, Jacob is welcomed and honored. Grace gives you more than you deserve.
Many people struggle with patience or a bad temper, but not God. Even though He is committed to justice, He is also slow to become angry. We see this play out in a scene between God and the prophet Jonah. Jonah actually gets angry at God’s lack of anger! Even when you lose patience, God is patient with you.
