Scripture
And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Exodus 33:8-20
Observation
Here we are a conversation between Moses and the Lord God Himself. It’s an intriguing passage, isn’t it? Moses boldly asks God to reveal His glory. Can you imagine that? Our first reaction is shocked amazement. The second is maybe to condemn Moses for doing it.
God doesn’t seem to get upset, instead the Lord replied, "Moses, the first thing we need to get straight is that I am going to do this my way, not yours.” Then He said, "I am going to pass before you. My glory is going to be there." "But, you’re not ready to see it. So here is a rock, and you stand on the rock and get ready. The moment I pass by I am going to take you and put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand. Then I will pass by. Once I have passed by I will remove my hand and you will see my back. “
Application
I see in this passage something about the way God reveals Himself to me. First of all, it says that God sometimes passes so near that I can feel His presence. I can know that He is there. But at the same time, there is a dimension to God that I will never be able to see or understand or comprehend with my finite, puny mind. I serve a mighty and powerful God who invites me to know Him in a personal and intimate way. Just as Moses asked God to reveal Himself to him, I can make the same request. The question we all have to ask ourselves is…do we really want God that close?
There are times I would have to admit, I want God to be in my life, but not too close. As humans we have learned to keep our distance from really powerful things, they tend to scare us. I believe we all want the powerful God in our life…but at a safe distance.
Prayer
Lord, I want to thank you for what you are saying to me through this story. You are there and anytime I would chose, you are willing to come close. Lord, help me to overcome my fear that keep me from wanting to see your glory.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
1 comment:
What came to me immediatly was Ye have not because ye ask not. We seem to think that God wants us to beg, yet He is our Father who is more willing to give us good things than our best fried is.
These giants of faith humble me so much, because I don't yet have the faith to ask for what they did.
Case in point, "God, shut the rain off so that people will get hungry for Your word, and return to serve You!" "OK, Elijah, I will do it for you." "Lord let it rain." "OK' Elijah I will do it for you."
Lord help me to expect huge things from you and to know that you are going to give what I ask. Then keep me humble enough to respond as Joseph did, It is God that does this not I.
Post a Comment