Good morning. I would like to share some thoughts today about the word “goodness.” In our dictionaries goodness is usually defined by using synonyms like moral excellence, worthiness, kindness, and as a tendency to be concerned with the well being of others. I guess that is OK, but none of those descriptions seem very powerful. Yet, goodness is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22) and as we read in Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith. We read that we are to “do what is good,” which does read better, but literally it says that we are commanded to “do goodness.”
I think that we may be tempted to consider goodness as a path of mediocrity, but that is far from the truth. What is “good” in our current language use is what we would say lacks in excellence. We might say that something is “good enough” but not great. In reality, the goodness that we are commanded to share and to perform is taken from what is recognized in Hebrew as a primary aspect of the nature of God.
In the Hebrew language the words from which we translate goodness are towb and tuv. The first, towb, is the word given to reference God’s goodness as He is pleased to bless us, deliver us, protect us. These are attributes of a loving father as he would care for his children. The second word, tuv, which is also translated into English as goodness, and is used in Hebrew to describe God’s desire to give gifts now, and to store up gifts for the future. God’s goodness, whether towb or tuv, always relates to His delight in caring for those He loves.
I appreciate the definitions that are given to explain goodness, but my favorite definition is from A. W. Tozer: The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and he takes total pleasure in the happiness of His people.
In Exodus 33 we read that Moses longed for a more complete understanding of God. He had heard His voice from the burning bush, and he had seen the miracles in Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. He had witnessed God’s care in delivering His people from slavery and then as He gave them water and manna in the desert wilderness. He had seen abundant evidence of God’s power, but he wanted more. In Exodus 33:18 we read: Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” In verses 19-20 God responds: And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
God’s promise of personal revelation to Moses was that “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you,”
Moses wanted to see the fullness of God’s glory, but there was a problem. God tells him that to see God in all of His glory would mean certain death. We just can’t handle such a thing this side of heaven. So, for that moment, God said that He would cause His goodness to be revealed. The next verses describe how God does this. He put Moses in the cleft of the rock, placed His hand over him, and allowed Moses to see His back in passing. Even such a brief glimpse of the Almighty was enough for Moses to be certain of God in all of His goodness.
We read on in Exodus 34:5-7 of how those moments with God impacted him. He was convinced of God’s mercy, grace, longsuffering, and that He abounds in goodness and truth.
When we consider the commands of God’s Word which say that we are to be people of goodness, our standard is not what is considered good by the world around us. Our standard is the goodness of God. We are commanded to accept, as a critical aspect of our Christian character, that in goodness we are to be a people of remarkable love and tender care.
Be good today! (By the way, I recently heard that sometimes the font I have been using is a little small to read on phones, so I will try this larger font.)
Vern