Glory

The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”  (Exodus 33:17-23, NASB)

The Bible passage above is Moses’ account of his encounter with the Glory of God in the wilderness by Mount Horeb (Sinai).  The setting:  Moses had been up on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights, neither eating nor drinking, meeting with God.  Among their agenda was God writing the Ten Commandments with His finger on stone tablets.  The Israelites wondered where Moses was, and if he was alive or dead, and rebelled by having Aaron fashion a golden calf for them to worship.  God saw what was going on, got angry, and sent Moses down from the mountain to deal with the rebellious people.  Moses became angry with the people, and smashed the stone tablets.  (Exodus 32)

God then tells Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land, but He would not accompany them.  Moses went to meet with God outside the Israelite camp at the tent of meeting.  Moses interceded for the people, pleading with God to travel with His people.  The text above picks up from there.  (Exodus 33:1-16)

Moses wants to know God better, and to lead the people to their final destination.  God tells Moses He will do so, as “you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”  Wow!  Oh, to have the Creator of the Universe say that I have found favor in His sight, and He knows me by name.  Actually, since Jesus is in me, it’s true! 

Moses then asks his Friend, “Show me Your glory.”  God tells Moses that He will do so, but He can’t show Moses His face, “for no man can see Me and live!”  God tells Moses to stand “there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

We can find favor in God’s sight, and have Him know us by name.  How?  By believing in His Son, Jesus.  Once we’ve come to faith in Him, He becomes our Advocate with the Father.  Instead of our faces, God looks at us and sees Jesus.  We can also see God’s glory.  I see it whenever I look out my window at His glorious creation!  Blue sky,  trees, plants and flowers.  I also see it whenever someone walks into my room.  Each person is an image-bearer of God.  Created in His image!  God, please show me Your glory!