The Greatest Glory is Not Power, It’s Character

By Eldon Kibbey

The Book of Exodus tells a powerful story of human failure and divine self-revelation. After the Israelites’ impatience led them to build a Golden Calf, Moses, in his own frustration, shattered the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. Though God was ready to reject His obstinate people, Moses pleaded with Him to forgive them.

This exchange led to Moses’ daring request: “Show me Your glory!” The dazzling glory God revealed to Moses was a verbal proclamation of His essence: “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

This moment highlights a crucial distinction:

• God’s Attributes: Qualities like Omnipotence (all-power), Omniscience (all-knowledge), and Omnipresence (being everywhere) are what mankind often desires—the basis of the superhero fantasy. These are qualities only God can exhibit.

• God’s Character Traits: Compassion, grace, long-suffering, love, faithfulness, forbearance, and justice are the qualities He revealed for a reason: they are the traits we, as humans, are encouraged to emulate in our daily lives.

These character traits are repeated throughout Scripture because God wants us to be aware of them, and He makes them available to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. They were perfectly embodied by Jesus while He was on earth.

The Challenge: God’s ultimate desire is not that we become all-powerful, but that we become more like Him in character. How are you reflecting compassion, grace, and justice in your relationships today?