The Hand Of God
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Exodus 33:12-23
12. Moses said to the Lord, "See, thou sayest to me, `Bring up this people'; but thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, `I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' 13. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thy sight, show me now thy ways, that I may know thee and find favor in thy sight. Consider too that this nation is thy people." 14. And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15. And he said to him, "If thy presence will not go with me, do not carry us up from here. 16. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people? Is it not in thy going with us, so that we are distinct, I and thy people, from all other people that are upon the face of the earth?" 17. 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." 18. Moses said, "I pray thee, show me thy glory." 19. And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name `The Lord'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and live." 21. And the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand upon the rock; 22. and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23. then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."
OK. Moses is not a “happy camper.” Excuse the pun! Remember he hid from God for 40 years before he ever led his people out of slavery and into the desert! And now, after everything he’s done, obediently and faithfully, God is telling him to keep at it. Don’t give up. Don’t lose your patience with Him. He has a plan. Remember? The plan? But Moses has determined that this whole thing is much more than he bargained for and he’s pretty fed up. Who wouldn’t be? He spent 40 days and nights up on the mountain receiving the “words of life” from God. And when he returns what does he find? A golden calf! Carousing! Drunkenness! A major party the likes of which he’s never seen!
And down go the tablets. The words are obliterated. His fasting meant nothing! He’s way past his wit’s end, he’s had it and he wants to quit! But God and Moses have a special bond. God loves Moses so very much – even though parents aren’t supposed to have favorites, God just can’t help himself! He loves Moses the way a parent dotes on a long-awaited new-born child. He actually speaks to Moses in person—face-to-face, the way a neighbor speaks to another neighbor! In fact he even allows Moses to bicker with him! He allows Moses to push the limits—because he understands the tremendous fortitude and faith and vitality and courage that are required to fulfill God’s plan!
God recognizes that Moses needs supernatural encouragement if he’s going to give it another shot! So what does He do? He arranges an “up close and personal” encounter! 19. And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name `The Lord'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and live." 21. And the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand upon the rock; 22. and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23. then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."
And you know what? God loves us this much too! He lovingly cradles us when we are in anguish. He places us in the cleft of the rocks when the storms of life threaten to toss us around. He sends people into our lives to love and guide and care for us. He exhibits His glory in our lives in countless ways! If only we weren't so “stiff-necked” and would recognize God’s presence in our world and our lives.
God’s glory is so tremendous that it cannot be contained, confined, controlled! And He wants us to remember that He never leaves us alone—to our own resources! He is with us. Always. He places His loving, comforting hand upon us every second of our lives. He loves us and knows us by name!
I hope today you feel the hand of God upon you. And that you offer your life as a living sacrifice of thanks and praise for His faithfulness.
Mary
