God's Face Before Us (Exodus 33:12-23)
Rev. William L. Barron, November 13, 2022Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Moses encountered God on Mt. Sinai. We encounter God in prayer. The focus in this is not on us; it is about what God is doing. The Israelites wanted God to be with them during the exodus. They said, in essence, "If you won't go with us, we don't want to go." Likewise, it should be our aim to be drawn more to the very heart of God. There are at least three distinctives we know about God. First, He is holy, and His chosen people are holy as a consequence. Yet, we sin against God, although we are set apart for Him. The second distinctive is that God is autonomous. He does what He wills to do. He showers grace and mercy upon whom He pleases. He is merciful, tenderhearted and compassionate toward those who are hopeless. Yes, we are sinners, but whom God has called to Himself. The third distinctive is that God is giving. Moses wanted God to show him more of His glory. We should ask this of God every day. Even during a bad week, seeking God's glory brings forth praise from us. We have a mediator in Christ who is far superior to what Israel had in Moses. God promises that His presence will be with us. God protected Moses from himself, and He will protect us. His glory is His goodness, and we must seek His goodness and thereby experience His glory.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Glory In The Cross | None | Before The Face Of God » |
Exodus 33:12–23 (Listen)
12 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on 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, “Please show me your 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 on 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.”
(ESV)