We love making splashy introductions. . . At a recent convention, I saw a master of ceremonies spend five minutes gushing on about the speaker’s credentials and triumphs while we anxiously waited to see the famous man.

All the accomplishments of man. . . Compared to this, I’ll always remember how surprised I was the first time I read the story of the burning bush, when Moses asked God, “Who are you?”

Instead of God saying, “I created it all” or “I’m all powerful,” God said, “I am the Lord, a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

What a way for God to introduce himself!   What kind of God would say such a thing??

No doubt God’s introduction made a big impression, because we read these same words five more times in the Old Testament.   Take for example, the story of Jonah – how God asked Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to tell the people to repent of their sins.  When Jonah tried to go the other way, God had a whale swallow Jonah and spit him out on the beaches of Nineveh.  After Jonah finally preached to the people of Nineveh, many repented, so God spared the city.

Then Jonah pouted and complained to God saying, I knew it!  This is the whole reason I didn’t want to go to Nineveh.  “I knew you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” ^{Jonah 4:2}

The great ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, once said, “the measure of a man is what he does with power.”

What true power our amazing God has.   Merciful and slow to anger.  Abounding in steadfast love!  We thank you God!