Show me! Show me! Show me!

One of my favorite accounts from the Bible is found in the Old Testament book of Exodus the 32-34th chapters. It's a bit of a read so I won't cut and paste it here, but it is worth the read.  The whole account takes what could be considered an unexpected turn in chapter 34.

Chapter 32 has Moses on the mountain communing with God and receiving instruction for the people, while down below the people are going through some kind of anxiety/homesick/leadership crisis.  Moses is gone "too long" so there is a cry to make a god that can go before the people and it goes downhill rapidly from there down in the flatlands.  God makes Moses aware of the goings on down the mountain and informs him that He will be dealing forthwith with the entire lot and He is not happy.

In the 33rd chapter, God informs Moses that He has had it with these stiff-necked people and that He (God) will not be completing the Exodus journey with Moses and the people. He will make provision but He does not want to hang out with that lot anymore. There is too many great things in this story to cover them all in a single post, so read these passages and let the visual of what is taking place, what is said and what results fill your imagination.

Moses makes an impassioned plea for the people and for God to stay with them. As Moses says in 33:15 ",,,, Lord if Your presence doesn't not go with me, then don't take us a step further (paraphrased)".  If You aren't coming then I don't want to go either!  In the New Testament book of John, Jesus puts some hard things on the table for the crowd and it thins immediately and dramatically and he asks the 12, "Will you go also?"  Peter said what I am sure the 11 would have said, "to who would we go? You only have the words of eternal life."  The person that is entangled, entwined, bonded to Christ cannot think of a step of life's journey taken without Him. But back to the story.

In the middle of the plea bargain Moses asks God to show him His Glory. This to me is an interesting request given the setting and the circumstances, but Moses spoke to God face to face so It must have made sense to both Moses and God. God then agrees and gives the shepherd instruction. Now here is where the account takes that unexpected turn.  It might just be me, but given the previous 2 chapters (32 and 33) what Moses is going to get shown is likely going to be firey swords, avenging angels in wait, brilliance of Person and Godhead that would strike one down dead.  I mean what is he going to see given the poor behavior of these chosen people, AGAIN? But God tells Moses you come back tomorrow and I will put you in a place by me and I will put my hand over you and as I pass by I will allow you to see my back parts.

It says in chapter 34 that Moses did everything requested and required. Now get this, from the Amplified version:

⁵And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
    ⁶And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth,
    ⁷Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation.
    ⁸And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth and worshiped.


If you still have your imagination turned on, can you see this scene (even in a misty form)? What Moses sees is not what I would have expected to see or hear.  No Gods character is not our own, unless we follow hard after Him.  Moses was probably not surprised by this display. Awestruck and compelled to worship, yes, but unlikely surprised. Again they talked face to face like friends do. Keep reading to the end of this chapter because it stays good.  The effect of being in a place with God and having him "show us" His Glory will have a visible effect. WOW!  I mean WOW!!

The understanding that we enjoyed regarding God as a part of his Church allows us to fill in that list of God Attributes some more.  Qualities like Love, Truth, Compassion, Redeemer, Sacrifice, Victor, Conquerer, Lion, Lamb, Risen One!   You get the picture Im sure.  What I want. No what I need is an unadulterated view of who God is. Seeing Him without a filter from my past or from some other false understanding will give me hope and courage for whatever is to come.  Dont let our previous expectations or experiences alter the perspective that God wants us to have of Him.  Search out His word and see what He has said about Himself.  To be sure He is not to be played a fool or triffled with, but He is so much bigger than we could ever imagine in every way.  Read these few chapters I have mentioned and see for your self.  Or comment on this post if you have seen or experienced in Him and unexpected or amazing quality.  Thanks for your time.

Jim