12 November 2013 Time for intimacy Prepare Imagine yourself talking to your best friend. Thank the Lord that through Jesus we can have an equally open relationship with God himself. Bible passage: Exodus 33:12-23 Moses and the Glory of the LORD 12 Moses said to the LORD, You have been telling me, Lead these people, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, I know you by name and you have found favor with me. 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people. 14 The LORD replied, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. 15 Then Moses said to him, If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 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? 17 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. 18 Then Moses said, Now show me your glory. 19 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. 20 But, he said, you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. 21 Then the LORD said, There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 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. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen. Explore the Bible Speaking up Moses and the Lord continue their difficult dialogue. Moses has realised that if the Lord is no longer willing to be present with his people, they might as well give up. He is prepared to risk God’s anger to speak up on behalf of the people and to plead their cause, although he is well aware of the extent of their wrongdoing. How relevant do you think it is that Moses has already established a relationship with God? And how does he use what he already understands about the Lord to press home his argument (vs 13,16)? Intimate relationship The level of honesty in this exchange between God and a human being gives an indication of the depths of intimacy that God is prepared to allow between himself and his people. Moses seems to have understood this, at least in part (see v 13, ‘so I may know you’). But the initiative for this relationship always comes from God, and any limits which he sets are for our own good. The apparent contradiction between verses 11 and 20 is probably just an indication of God’s sovereignty in his relationships with his people. The general principle is expressed in verse 20, but the Lord may choose to make exceptions to it, as in verse 11. Respond Have you ever argued with God, and if so, what happened? Thank him for an open and honest relationship. Caroline Masom Deeper Bible study Moses, like only a few others in Scripture, is said to ‘have found favour’ with God (v 12; 1 Samuel 2:26; Proverbs 18:22; Luke 2:52). Note the intimate conversation that follows. As with any deep friendship, God and Moses probe each others’ thoughts, express their concerns and reveal their inner characters. Moses wants assurance that God is still with the Israelites, that he will still guide and lead them and that the people will know God’s favour. He wants for himself a deeper understanding of who God is, and how to receive more of God’s blessing. Moses’ increasing boldness leads him to ask more and more from God, leading to the request of a complete unveiling of the mysterious, supernatural and previously invisible reality of being. For Moses, after the darkness of Israel’s sin comes the promise of such a complete revelation of God’s being, character and presence that he will need protection from God himself to experience it. Moments of spiritual renewal often come at times of trial, and even after failure. Here, not only are Moses’ calling, leadership and commission reaffirmed, but we are given a wonderful understanding of the very nature of God. This is the God who not only acts in time and human history to save his people, but who also gives us personal knowledge of his purity, holiness, love and forgiveness. Where do we need encouragement today, both for our own lives and for the churches and nations in which we belong? In Western post-Christian societies, the challenges are clear. In the rapidly growing churches of the global south, other needs emerge. Wherever we are in our own spiritual lives, and however long we have been believers, we long for deeper knowledge of God. Can we make any other request than that of Moses, ‘Now show me your glory!’ (v 18)? Richard Harvey Bible in a year Read the Bible in a year. Todays readings are: Ezekiel 24,25 1 Peter 3 Me too!‘My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.’ Oh God, can those words be for me too? How I long to hear them! I’m not Moses, but I’m also on a journey – trying to follow Jesus. Some days, life seems like an unmarked wilderness, and I’m not sure which way to go. ‘My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.’ Yes, I hear you Lord. Help me to trust. Other days, I’m so busy that I don’t stop to listen. I’m stressed and distracted and frazzled. ‘My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.’ Yes, I hear you Lord. Help me to pause and take time for you. Then there are the days when I do remember. I walk restfully in your presence. How different those days are. ‘My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.’ Yes, I believe you Lord. Those words are for me. Your presence does go with me and give me rest. Thank you Lord!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:39:46 +0000
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