God Is Good All the Time

Moses pleaded with God, "Show me your glory," (Exodus 33:18). 

Did God begin by showing Him His justice, holiness, power, His wrath? After all, the Israelites had just broken His covenant by worshiping the golden calf.

No. He said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you." The goodness of God is God's glory! God's greatest glory is that He is good. 

But His goodness is not all Moses saw. "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." That is His sovereignty.

When we put goodness and sovereignty together, we have God's glory. I like these lines I heard years ago:

"Good when he gives, supremely good;

 No less when he denies.

Afflictions from His sovereign hand

Are blessings in disguise."

Pharaoh had been the source of the Israelites' misery. (See Exodus 5 through 11.) Now God says He will show His glory through this one who had brought them great distress. It is often when we are faced with what looks like defeat and suffering, that God says, "It is through this circumstance that I will show My glory. Trust Me. Believe that I will bring good to you through this difficulty." 

Caroline V. Sandell-Berg had a wonderful understanding of God's glory--His goodness and sovereignty--when she wrote "Day by Day." Go here and enjoy the encouraging words.

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you" (Psalm 63:3).