Dear readers, thank you for following this series of articles focused on the fascinating theme: “The Character of God.” With this issue, we have finally arrived at the final installment. The text we have been analyzing is found in Exodus 34:6:

“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”

“Abundant in truth.”

Let us focus our attention on this final segment. In Hebrews, this expression is translated as emet, a term that appears at least 330 times in the Old Testament, and which literally means truth or stability. This term is related to another Hebrew expression we commonly use: amen, which is translated as “verily” or “so be it.” Therefore, the term emet conveys a concept of certainty or something firm and reliable. Consider the episode in which Moses had to keep his hands raised for Israel to defeat their enemies, the Amalekites, on the battlefield: “But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady (emet) until the going down of the sun.” Exodus 17:12

Emet is also used as an adjective to describe a person who is trustworthy, reliable, or upright in their ways. In Exodus 18:21, the Lord instructs Moses on the qualities to look for in selecting leaders who would help him bear the burden of governance: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth (emet), hating covetousness…”

Therefore, when we read that the Lord is “abundant in truth”, it does not mean only that He is a God of truth, but also that He is trustworthy and faithful, worthy of our full confidence. Now we understand why Moses, referring to the Lord, calls Him a Rock: he experienced God’s faithful character firsthand; he learned throughout his life to trust in the Lord:

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9

In other words, the term emet expresses truth, which for the Christian means believing what God says and leaning confidently on Him.

It is interesting to note that the Hebrew expression for “to trust” is simply a verb form of emet, which becomes he’emin (to believe, to have faith), literally meaning “to consider someone trustworthy.”

In the Old Testament, the first man who learned to trust in God and in His promises was Abraham: “And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6. Even though it seemed impossible, he placed his trust in the Lord and believed that He would fulfill His promise of a rich and numerous offspring.

And the Lord did not fail to keep His promise. Generation after generation, the Lord continued to prove Himself faithful to the people of Israel—especially to His beloved servant David, who from his youth demonstrated firm trust in the Lord, responding to God’s faithfulness with obedience. In 2 Samuel 7:12, 16, the Lord promises: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. . . . And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” This prophetic message was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes: “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Romans 15:8.  The Son came into this world as a representative of the Father’s character, to demonstrate His faithfulness.

How grateful we should feel toward the Lord for His faithfulness! In Him, we find a solid rock, a safe refuge at all times. His Word is truth, and His promises never fail to be fulfilled.

Dear friends, do not grow weary of bringing your petitions to the Lord. He is faithful to hear your prayers and answer your requests, according to His promises.

Remember that our God is full of emet, and with every amen that our lips utter, the Lord reminds us that He is worthy of our complete trust.

May the Lord bless you!

Amen.

By Ylenia Gallo