Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”Exodus 33:18
In the early days shortly after the Exodus we read of God's people quickly giving up on waiting on the promise of God and choosing to do things their own way. They chose to "find" their own way and in turn almost lost it; many dying for their rebellion.Ornaments, jewelry taken off; an offering if you will to make for themselves a "god" they could bow before. A people who fell down before a false god, though they had belonged to another; the Deliver that had just parted the waters and allowed them to walk on dry ground while their enemies drowned.
The Lord knows all about us and the road we are to travel. As we entertain desires that are not from God, the Scripture says that is will lead to death. (James 1:15) We have to filter every thought through God lest we find ourselves sinning against God.
A promise from God to lead his people to the Promise Land. God knows us well. He has placed our feet on a road that leads to life; will we divert and at what cost?
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:1-3)
Wow, those are difficult words to hear. The Golden calf did not speak, but here is God delivering a message that caused their heart to tremble; gripped with fear and rightly so. It's like when our parents warn us of imminent danger or we go against their protective guidelines and we find ourselves in sin. We at time might hear the words, "go ahead son...go ahead daughter" but the repercussion are yours. That's what God said to the Israelites.
But Moses cries out on behalf of the people. Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth (vs 15-16)?”
A desperate cry for mercy. Moses even goes as far as telling God to blot out my name; Lord if you dismiss these people; dismiss me too. An intercessory cry on behalf of the people.
Are we willing to cry out to God on behalf of the LOST! My brother in Christ, Victor gave this great acronym for the word LOST.
Let
Others
Save
Them
See, we have to remember that the Lord in his mercy has saved us so we can in turn share the GOOD NEWS! Yes someone, God himself, loves us and sent his son to die on our behalf because of our rebellious way. Jesus, took our place so our names would not be blotted out of the Book of Life. Glory to God! Nothing escapes God. We might sin in secret but He knows. We think no one will find out, but the Lord knows the heart.
A quick run to the Mercy Seat of God is what we need. A desperate cry for mercy. Look how God answers Moses: And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen. (vs 17-23)” How merciful and gracious! This is the God I serve. Thank you for mercy Lord. Show me your Glory!
He knows when I have fallen, he knows the hairs on my head, he knows when I do wrong, yet he calls me to himself and allows me to cry out in repentance and he restores me again. He allows me to see his Glory once again; his Presence that causes me to bow in worship.
God bless you!~Liz www.LizRod.com
