Exodus 33:18-23 NASB Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" (19) And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." (20) But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" (21) Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; (22) and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. (23) "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."
God. Have you contemplated Him? Thought deeply about how He looks, how being with Him in close proximity would affect you? There are so many things about God that stretch our minds and exceed our ability to comprehend. Though we're made in His likeness, we're so distant in our current state from our creator's glory.
Moses was called by God to lead. Though reluctant, in obediece he did lead. He heard from God and followed His instruction through the wilderness as they escaped Egypt and transitioned to the promised land. In the wilderness God called Moses to the top of Mt Sinai to literally lay down the law. God talked with Moses but hid Himself in a cloud. As it turns out this was for Moses' own good. Eventhought Moses was selected specially for the job he was not able to be too close. After spending a long time (at least 40 days and nights) on the mountain hearing from God all the ways he should instruct the people, Moses made his bold request. "Please show me your glory" Exo 33:18.
I think Moses expressed a desire many of us have. Simply said, it is to "Know" God in a greater way than we do at a particular point in time. Typically (for me anyway) this is in seasons of closeness. That is, times when I'm intentionally focused on the Lord, His Word, my obedience to Him. I'm easily distracted and I'm betting I'm not alone. But in these times I do want to know God in a deeper way and on its face I think that's what Moses wanted to. So he asked.
And God didn't reject his request but at the same time He didn't give Moses all he had requested for his own good. "You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live". What? Our God who wants us to come to Him then says, but only so close because you'll die? Yep! Without going through the whole story, Moses like the rest of us decendents of Adam have within us the stain of sin. That taints us and makes all of us unable to stand in the presence of the Glory of God. We would die just as God says Moses would die. More on that in a minute.
So, God does honor the request but with the appropriate limitations and safeguards necessary to keep Moses safe. He puts Moses in the cleft of a rock shielded to a degree. He passes by but puts His hand over Moses location to guard him from seeing too much. Then as He passes He removes His had to allow Moses a glimpse of His back. In so doing Moses was afforded a special but partial encounter with God.
As a result Moses literally glowed. "Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him." Exo 34:29b That guarded exposure to God made Moses skin glow.
So God gave Moses answer to his request not in full but in part according to what was best. He does that for us too because He simply knows better. We're instructed to pray according to His will, but we are limited in our ability and on our best day fall short.
The bigger issue is what can be done about this separation problem. Why is it neither we nor Moses can stand it his full glory? How can we connect with God when being fully in his presence would kill us? Out of mercy, the largest fathomable expression of His grace He sent us His son Jesus. Jesus cleared the path for us to come fully into God's presence. He paid the price for us. We who believe that to be true accepting this grace gift are seen not of Adam's lineage but that of Jesus. And we will one day see God in his full glory in heaven. AMEN!
