Do you consider yourself to be bold? What is the boldest thing you have ever done? Have you surprised yourself with your boldness? Have you asked God to see him face-to-face? What do you think God’s answer would be? Have you read what he told Moses?
We can be bold at times. We may be bold when we get angry enough. We may be bold when we are sure we are correct. Being bold can be good or can be foolish. We may think before we are bold, or we may jump out on that limb without thinking.
Moses was bold, very bold. He may have put some thought into it, or he may have simply got caught up in the moment. Regardless, he asked God to see his glory. In other words, he asked to see God face-to-face in all his majesty. Moses was, in effect, asking to see God as he is in heaven. He was asking to see God in all his righteousness.
God was gracious with Moses. He didn’t scold him or punish him. In fact, God agreed to show Moses his glory in part. He allowed Moses to see his glory from behind. Even at seeing God’s glory in that way, I’m sure Moses was in awe. But that brings a question to mind. How big is your God?
God tells Moses that as he passes by, he will put his hand over Moses so he will not be able to see God’s face. That simple image tells us that God’s hand is larger than a human. Of course, that is a simple image, and we know God is far larger than that, but it gives us a glimpse at how awesome God is.
God also states that he will show grace and mercy to those he desires to show them to. That may sound a little presumptuous. However, we must remember that God can see into our hearts. He knows our thoughts better than we do. He knows what we will do before we do. God is far better at deciding who to show grace and mercy to.
I pray we all come to realize how awesome God is. I pray we see his glory in our minds eye. I pray each one of us have a heart that God will choose to show grace and mercy to. Know that God is awesome. Be in awe of him. Have a heart for God. Accept his grace and mercy.
Exodus 33:18-19 Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”
Marty Pressey 