Today’s Reading Exodus 33 – 35
Focal Scripture: Exodus 33:18 “Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”
Moses is in a difficult situation. God has commanded him to lead a rebellious people. God calls them stiff-necked. In other words they do not like to listen and are not very teachable. They want to follow their own hearts and desires instead of following after God. Leading a group of people who are resisting God is overwhelming. This is where Moses finds himself.
With these difficulties in mind Moses does the only sensible act that he knows has a chance. He asks God to teach him his ways and to make sure that his presence will be with him and will go with them. Moses understands that his mission is to much for him on his own. God responds to Moses and promises him that he has found favor with God and that he knows him personally by name. God comforts Moses when he is overwhelmed.
Then Moses makes the statement that should shake us all down to our bones. He said “Please, let me see your glory.” Moses went all in. His desperation for God and his presence shows us a heart that desires more from his relationship. Moses wants to know all of God, not just part. Moses gives us an example to follow. We know that God did not show Moses everything he wanted but God gave him exactly what he could handle.
So what does this mean for us? It means that in our situations that seem to much we need to lean into God not away from him. Instead of complaining and not seeing the truth, we need to desire more of God’s presence, not less. If you are anything like me when I get overwhelmed I tend to retreat. I need time to think and reassess what is happening around me. I analyze every thought, decision, idea and purpose. I get in my own head.
Moses has shown us that when life gets overwhelming we need to ask God for more of him not less. Our hearts must become desperate to be in God’s presence. This bold request will transform how we approach life and how we approach worship. Moses is demonstrating a God centric theology, not a self centered theology.
I pray that you and I both will daily make the statement, “Please, let me see your glory.”
Tomorrow I plan on reading Exodus 36-38
