No one up to the time of Moses had ever dared to ask God, or even thought of asking him, to “show me your glory,” Exodus 33:18. So what stirred Moses to do it? And how did he know there was more to God than what he’d already seen of him too, having spent a long time with him on Mount Sinai (19:20 and 32:1), and many more hours having God speak with him “face to face as with a friend” as well (33:11)?
But the circumstances in which Moses found himself wanting to know more of God than anyone before him – or even after too – were exceptional. A tipping point in the future of God’s plan had been reached. The Israelites were on the verge of entering Canaan at last, in fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham, but Moses had called a halt, unsure of where he and Israel really stood with God. Twice now God had threatened to destroy every Israelite, so was God with them or not?
Moses was feeling pretty shaky, to the point he couldn’t – and wouldn’t – take one step further unless he knew God was still truly and convincingly with them (33:15-16). God’s reply in verse 17, therefore, was super encouraging, because he not only promised Moses to “do the very thing you’ve asked for,” but also his reason for doing so was because “I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” God was deeply and personally honouring the Moses he knew and loved so much.
And that was enough for Moses to ask God: “Well, in that case, let me see you as you really are in all your glory.” And what he got was the answer he hoped for too, that yes, “the Lord” would appear in “all his goodness in Moses’ presence” (19) – but – what God meant by that was more than just seeing “my glory passing by” for Moses’ eyeballs to see (22), because in what seems like a disconnect, God also says in verse 19, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
But why say that in the middle of promising to show his glory? Because God had promised Moses back in verse 14, “I will give you rest,” and what better way for God to put Moses’ mind to rest than showing him why he was doing this exceptional thing for him? It was purely out of compassion for Moses himself and what he was going through, and mercy toward the Israelites, despite their stupidity. Because this is where God’s glory would really come to light for Moses, in how God responded to him “When God’s ways didn’t make sense”….(next blog)
Buck To Basics 