Exodus 34:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As the Lord passed in His splendor over the scattered stones where Moses stood, He proclaimed: The Lord God, indeed, the Lord God is gracious to the righteous, compassionate toward the needy and downtrodden, patient with transgressors, and enduring in His mercy, extending it to a thousand generations. He pours His grace upon the descendants who embrace the faith of their forebears, showing forbearance towards their unworthy children, anticipating their repentance (refer to v. 7 in Scripture). The Lord is also steadfast - loyal in fulfilling His promises (see v. 7). By highlighting these divine qualities, the Lord assured Moses that his pleas on behalf of the people were heard and that He would completely forgive the sins of the people. Furthermore, the everlasting mercies pledged to their ancestors would remain intact.

The one who possesses immortality, whom no man has ever seen or can see, is referenced by St. Paul (1 Tim. 6:16). In his experiences, the Apostle Paul ascended to paradise and encountered ineffable truths that cannot be articulated to humanity (2 Cor. 12:4). St. John the Theologian affirms, “No one has ever seen God” (John 1:18). All human beings who have glimpsed the most profound visions and revelations could only grasp the divine message through their ears and hearts, with the word of God serving as the vital connection between the Most High and humanity. Those who exist in the physical realm cannot access the spiritual realm through their sensory faculties.