As we step into the New Year, many of us set resolutions to build better habits or shed old ones. Here at The Chara Project, we encourage you to have a deeper goal: growing in our relationship with God by understanding His character through His Word. 

By understanding the attributes of God across the Bible, we can weave together a powerful narrative of God’s consistent character that enables us to trust Him more deeply in the year(s) ahead. 

God’s Self-Description

In Exodus 34:6-7, God describes His character to Moses after the Israelites’ rebellion with the golden calf. 

 “The Lord, the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.”

This pivotal moment lists six attributes—compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, faithful, and forgiving—that echo throughout Scripture. Using this verse as a lens let’s explore how God’s character unfolds in the stories of Abraham, Moses, David, and others, showing His unchanging nature across history.

God’s Attributes in the Story of the Bible

We see God’s character through key figures and moments in the Bible, from Genesis to the New Testament:

• Abraham and His Descendants: God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12-17) promised land, a great nation, and blessing through his family. Despite hardships like famine and 400 years of enslavement in Egypt, Abraham, and his family Isaac, Joseph, and their descendants trusted God’s FAITHFULNESS, looking forward to His promises.
• Moses and the Israelites: After delivering the Israelites from Egypt, Moses encountered their rebellion (Exodus 19-24). When they refused to confront the Canaanites, Moses boldly reminded God of His attributes (Numbers 14:18-20), pleading for forgiveness. God’s response—forgiving the people—highlighted His compassion, grace, and FORGIVENESS.
• Judges and Kings: The Israelites’ 400 rebellious years under judges and mostly ungodly kings showed God’s patience (Judges, 1-2 Kings). King David, despite his flaws, praised God’s COMPASSION and GRACE while facing enemies (Psalm 86:14-16), reflecting a heart reliant on God’s steadfast love.
• Prophets Jonah and Joel: Jonah was frustrated by God’s mercy toward the wicked Ninevites (Jonah 4:1-2), while Joel urged the Israelites to return to their compassionate, SLOW-TO-ANGER God (Joel 2:13). These contrasting responses highlight God’s consistent grace and mercy, even when His people resisted.
• Exile and Return: After 400 years of rebellion, God sent the Israelites into exile for 70 years, a wake-up call to their need for Him. Upon their return, Nehemiah recounted God’s faithfulness and mercy (Nehemiah 9:16-31), emphasizing His STEADFAST LOVE (Hebrew: hesed) in sustaining and restoring His people.
• Jesus in the New Testament: God’s ultimate act of FAITHFULNESS came through Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, whose death on the cross fulfilled the promise to bless the world (Romans 5:8). Jesus embodies God’s compassion, mercy, grace, and forgiveness, offering eternal life as a free gift (2 Timothy 2:13).

Why It Matters: Applying God’s Character Today

Knowing God’s character—compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, loving, faithful, and forgiving—builds trust and confidence in Him. As you enter this New Year, which of God’s attributes resonate most?

For deeper insight into God’s trusted character, check out episode 102 of The Chara Project podcast, found on YouTube and most podcasting sites.