As promised last week, here are a few words of explanation concerning the LORD’s reply to Moses: 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 (Ex 33:19).
Moses had requested three things: 1) To know His ways in order to know Him better, 2) The company of His presence on the way, and 3) To see His glory.
This is the LORD’s answer to the first request: I will make all my goodness pass before you. In other words, if you seek to know Me, then, know that I am GOOD. GOD is GOOD. Regardless of the natural disasters, death and all manner of suffering in the world, GOD is and remains GOOD. If you do not understand this, then you have not even begun to scratch who GOD is. It is not by chance that Jesus told the young rich man that only one is GOOD: GOD (Mat 19:17). He knew the terrible fate that awaited Him, but this did not stop Him from proclaiming GOD’s goodness. This is also why David invited the people to taste and see that the LORD is good, even though his own life was not rosy every day (Ps 34:8). As a matter of fact, he added: “Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Why seek refuge if everything is ok and there is no danger ahead? Let me tell you this: what you are going through right now, or will go through tomorrow, doesn’t change a thing to the inherent goodness of GOD. An apple tree can only bear apples and GOD can only ‘produce’ goodness. This explains why His ways (which Moses desired to know) are essentially Grace and Mercy, and why Jesus exhorted us to be merciful, just like our heavenly Father (Lk 6:36).
As for the second request, GOD had already promised to go with him in verse 17: "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favour in my sight..."
Lastly, when Moses asked to see His glory, GOD replied: I will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' This might not mean a lot to you, especially if you have never found yourself in the presence of a king or a head of state. However, during official events, before the arrival of a king or president, someone (a herald) goes before them and announces loudly: ‘His Majesty the King! Or, ‘The President of the Republic!’ and everybody stands up etc. Yet, in our case, it is not Moses who announces GOD, but GOD who is Moses’ herald; and He doesn’t shout: ‘His Excellency Moses!’ before him, but instead, He proclaims His own Name. In other words, wherever Moses goes, GOD announces him saying: ‘Behold, GOD!’ Had He not said before: ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh?’ And, speaking of Aaron, ‘He shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him?’ Ex 7:1 & 4:16
This is how GOD’s glory is manifested in people’s life. Do not be fooled: it has NOTHING to do with houses, cars and designers’ clothes. If this was the case, Hollywood would be a better place than the church to look for it.
You know that you walk in GOD’s glory when the LORD Himself trumpets your arrival to the world, systems and Creation by calling you by His Name. This is the reason why elements instantly submitted to the LORD’s orders and why GOD backed up Prophet Elijah when he boldly said that there would be no dew or rain except by his word (1Ki 17:1)! By the way, do not forget the fact that Elijah wore a garment of camel’s hair which was not the then-days’ equivalent to luxurious clothes (2Ki 1:8). When GOD is well-pleased with someone, He does not withhold any good thing from them (Ps 34:10 & 84:11)… I could have written more, but it is not necessary. Those who seek the LORD with all their heart will find Him and understand much more than what I have shared. As for the others, well, it is best to make a better usage of pearls…
Have a wonderblessed week!
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