Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.”

Exodus 33:18

Moses had been given the unenviable task of leading God’s people to the Promised Land. God assured Moses that he would not be going alone, God would be with him and would look favorably upon him. But Moses wanted more. Maybe he was thinking something like, “Maybe I could do this if God would only __________.” Moses filled in that blank with “show me Your glorious presence.” When called to go through something difficult or stretching, what would you fill in that blank with? Heal me, make my path straight, make my life easier? Not too long ago, I would have filled in that blank with “heal me.” I know now that I need more than that, I want more than that. I also know that obedience to what God has called me to isn’t something that should be filtered through my wants.

So Moses chose to be satisfied with God’s glorious presence. And God protected Moses from the full impact of His presence and allowed him a glimpse of His glory. As God passed in front of Moses, He called out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!
    The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin…”
Exodus 34:6-7

Moses, being the wise man that he was, immediately threw himself to the ground and worshipped God, asked for forgiveness, and accepted the call to lead the people.

I find this interesting. Moses wanted to see God’s power. And what does God do? He gives Moses a brief list of His characteristics. Instead of revealing Himself as powerful and majestic, He reveals Himself as compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, filled with unfailing love, forgiving, etc.

Imagine yourself in a job interview and they ask you to talk about your strengths. How I hate that question. Instead of listing your accomplishments and achievements and skills and such, what if you said, I am loving and kind and merciful and slow to anger and forgiving? Think you would get the job? If God had taken that route with Moses, He could still be listing His accomplishments and achievements and skills and such today. But He didn’t. He chose instead to show Moses His lovingkindness and His love and compassion. And that brought Moses to his knees.

My life would be different, perhaps a lot better if I had no pain at all anymore. But how much better would it be if I just allowed the character of God to be so big in my life that I would never fill in that blank with anything other than just knowing God and His love for me?

God, I pray that You would forgive me for all the times I hesitated to pursue You and the things You want for me because I was waiting on You to fill in the blank with one more request from me. When I think of Your mercy and compassion and unfailing love, I too, am brought to my knees. That You love me is more than enough, way more than I deserve. Thank You for Your grace in leading me through this healing journey in Your way and not mine. In Jesus’s name, amen.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

pic credit: randomgroovybiblefacts.com