Show me Your Glory - Exodus 32-34

A couple of weeks ago, our pastor preached a sermon from Exodus. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Moses and his request of the LORD, “Please show me Your glory!” But that wasn’t his first request… take a look!

Read Exodus 32-34 and look for what was happening with Israel that prompted this conversation between God and Moses. Discover what Moses asked God to show to him FIRST…

What did you discover?

Let’s look together at Exodus 33:13 –

Now therefore, if I have found favor in Your sight, please show me now Your ways, that I may know You in order to find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is Your people.

Moses was grieving over Israel’s sin and the disastrous word that God would no longer go up among His people as He previously did. So, Moses asked God, “Show me Your ways!”

Why did he ask that?

The verse answers the question. Moses wanted to know God’s ways so that he could KNOW GOD more and FIND FAVOR (grace) in God’s sight! Think about that for a minute…

Have you ever asked God to show you His ways? Why did you ask?

I don’t know what Moses was thinking, but his statement reminding God, “Consider too that this nation is Your people” tells me his desire to know God was not just for himself – he prayed for his people, too. He was concerned for them – He was one of them and would share in whatever happened to them (see 32:31-32). And he was concerned for God’s glory and fame as we see in the verses that follow. Read again this exchange between God and Moses:

Exodus 33:14-17

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

And [Moses] said to Him, “If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not in Your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and Your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

What did Moses say made God’s people distinct?

What would you say makes Christians distinct from non-Christians today?

What do you notice about God’s response to Moses?

I noticed the incredible kindness and tenderness of God! He knows Moses – He knows him by name – He knows exactly who Moses is. Deep worship and passion for God welled up within Moses and he asked, “Please! Show me Your glory!”

Suddenly, nothing but God and His glory mattered! God would carry out His purposes for Israel and it would be right – and good – and He would be faithful to them in the process. God’s glory was more important than the circumstances Moses faced. Without God’s presence, he did not want to move – anywhere… for any reason…

            What does it mean to you that God knows your name?

Does it give you confidence and hope to trust Him?

This was also in David’s heart many generations later when he wrote Psalm 27:4-5 –

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.

For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock.

David’s one desire was to dwell with the LORD and gaze on His beauty forever, to ask and to know Him! Why? Here is a clue: verse 5 starts with the word “For” – or “Because…”

What would gazing on the beauty of the LORD and knowing Him more deeply do for David?

Do you hunger deeply for God?
Do you long to dwell with Him and gaze on His beauty? Why?

It seems that gazing on the LORD increases our desire to gaze on and know Him still more. The result is that He shelters us in Him. That shelter is only found in Jesus Christ. He is our salvation, hope, peace, and rock. His shelter goes far beyond keeping us physically safe (which is NOT guaranteed) to salvation in Christ who guards our souls from destruction (which IS guaranteed when we put our trust in Him alone!).

So, you are invited this week to gaze on the LORD and find shelter in Him. Study the account given in Exodus 32-34.

What do you learn about God?

How did He show Moses His glory?

Look closely at 34:6-7

What did the LORD proclaim?

What do you learn of God in His proclamation of who He is?

What was Moses’ response in verse 8?

You might notice that when Moses came down off the mountain after this encounter, he went right to work, instructing and leading the people in the ways of the LORD.

Where else in Scripture is the name of the LORD spoken of?

How does God’s name describe Him?

How will you respond to the glorious name of the LORD that is proclaimed for you in His Word?

I am praying always for you and greatly anticipating the time when we can be together again! Keep your eyes on Jesus, dear sisters!