The Nature of God

Message Handout


Exodus 34:5–8 (NLT) — 5 Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.” 8 Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped.

Exodus 3:13–15 (NLT) — 13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

Four things about His nature from His name:

  1. His nature is CONSISTENT - “Yahweh.”
    1. “I will be what I will be,” “I will be what I was,” “I am what I will be” 
    2. He is unchanging
    3. He is the consistent embodiment of His character
    4. He will always be what He was
  2. His nature is CONNECTION - “The God of your ancestors.”
    1. He is a relational and personal God 
    2. He moved from Elohim to Yahweh
    3. Jesus moved from having servants to friends
    4. He doesn’t need any of us, but He wants all of us
  3. His nature is COVENANT - “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
    1. Covenant is an oath to perform something. God makes covenants so we can know what to expect. 
    2. Whatever God promises, He will do.
      1. He won’t destroy the world with water.
      2. He will call Israel his people if they are faithful to obey His law.
      3. His body and blood were given for us to be forgiven perpetually of sin, and if we abide in Christ, we will have access to the throne of God.
    3. To do - Believe his covenants, act on them.
  4. His nature is commission - “Has sent me to you.”
    1. God chooses to work through people. 
    2. Adam - He chose to have someone oversee His creation
    3. Isaiah - “Who should go for me.”
    4. The apostles - “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”



    The Nature of God

    In Exodus 34, God says who He is. Do you take Him at His word, or have you made Him into someone else? Discover the nature of the one true God.

    5 Part Series

    All the files in the included packages below have been stripped of dates and church branding. Feel free to adjust, change, or tweak as needed. Include your own church logo or swap out the photos.

    Full package also available on Dropbox.

    Assets & Files

    Part 1: The Nature is in the Name

    What God says is exactly who He is and He will never change

    Part 2: What's He Like

    Compassion and grace are the first traits that God uses to describe himself. Let’s not only see others’ needs but act to meet them.

    Part 3: Slow to Anger

    Even in His anger, God’s patience with us continues to show His steadfast love for us.

    Part 4: Hesed Emet

    God's love doesn't change. Nothing impacts how he feels for us. Encounter our Creator‘s Hesed Emet.

    Part 5: God of Generations

    The love, forgiveness, and justice of God is for every generation. His nature lasts for all of time.

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