Soul Kitchen

I invite you to listen in on an encounter Moses had with God. Come imagine “being there” as you read about when God showed Moses His glory and basically introduced Himself to Moses.

This encounter is found in Exodus 33:12-23 and 34:5-7. It’s one of my favorite passages of Scripture.

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.' 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."

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 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?"

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."

Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

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. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 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. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

What a beautiful interaction between Holy God and man - His creation! Doesn't it make you want to know God like that?
God introduces Himself; describes Himself. Do you see God as:
The LORD?
Compassionate?
Gracious God?
Slow to Anger?
Abounding in love and faithfulness?
Maintaining love to thousands?
Forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin?
Punishing the guilty?

Does this match up with your picture of God? If not, you can ask God to give you a new view - a true view - of Himself. Let’s make sure that what we know of God – how we think of Him - lines up with who He says He is. Let’s make sure the lies that the enemy has fed us, casting doubt on God’s goodness and love are recognized as lies and don’t mar our view of His glory.

I love my God. I love how He introduces Himself. I love how He is opening my eyes and my heart to see Him more and more for Who He truly is. He is soooo good!

Don’t you also just love how Moses knows how God thinks of him? And how God affirms Moses? We have an amazing relational God! Let Him be that real with you. He wants to have that kind of relationship with you. Trust Him.