Show Me Your Glory

What would you ask God for if you knew He was going to give you exactly what you asked? Think about that for a minute. Moses had a pretty impressive track record with God. He had seen the burning bush. He had watched God deliver Israel from Egypt. He had seen the Red Sea split open. He had watched God provide food and water in the wilderness. He had been on Mount Sinai multiple times and spoken with God. And then in Exodus 33, Moses asks God for something that might surprise us: "Please show me your glory."

After everything Moses had already seen, he wanted more. But notice what he didn't ask for. He didn't ask for victory. He didn't ask for provision. He didn't ask for a bigger blessing. He didn't even ask for the Promised Land. He asked for God.

I think that's something we can easily lose sight of. We love what God does. We pray for healing. We ask Him to provide. We ask Him to open doors, protect our families, give us wisdom, bless our work and answer our prayers. There is nothing wrong with any of those things. But somewhere along the way, we can become more interested in God's gifts than God Himself. Moses had gotten to a place where he could say, "I just want You, Lord." That's a prayer I want to keep coming back to.

God answered Moses' request in an interesting way. Moses asked to see God's glory, and God revealed His nature. "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." Moses wanted to see God's glory, and God told him who He was. That's important.

Our culture is fascinated with experiences. We want something dramatic. Something we can feel. Something we can point to. But God doesn't just reveal Himself through what He does. He reveals Himself through who He is. And He has given us His Word so that we can know Him. Then something happens to Moses that I love. When he comes down from the mountain, his face is shining. And Moses doesn't even realize it. That's the funny thing about being with God. The more clearly we see Him, the less fascinated we become with ourselves. Moses wasn't walking around thinking, "Man, look at my face!" He was consumed with God. And everyone else could see that he had been with Him.

Paul takes this story in 2 Corinthians 3 and shows us something even better. Moses' glory eventually faded. But the glory we experience through Christ is different. It is permanent. Through the Holy Spirit, as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into His image. That's the goal. Not just to have a powerful Sunday. Not just to experience a great worship service. Not just to have a moment where we felt God's presence.

The question isn't simply, "Have you experienced God's presence?" The better question is, "Has His presence changed you?" Can people see something different in the way you love? In the way you speak? In the way you treat people? In the way you handle pressure? In the way you lead your family? In the way you forgive? In the way you serve? In the way you respond when things don't go your way?

When we have truly been with Jesus, His presence begins to show up in our lives. And here's the incredible part: we don't have to climb Mount Sinai to experience Him. We don't have to wait for a cloud. We don't have to stand in a cleft in a rock.

Hebrews 10 tells us that because of Jesus, we can enter the presence of God with confidence. So maybe today the prayer isn't, "God, give me this." Maybe it's simply: "God, show me Your glory. Show me who You are. I want more of You." And then stay there for a while. Because when we see Him clearly, everything else begins to find its proper place. And when we spend time in His presence, we may not even realize how much we're changing. But other people will.

Take a moment to reflect:

What are some areas of your life where you want the presence of God to produce visible change?
Think about:

• The way you speak
• The way you treat people
• Your marriage and family
• Your work
• Your leadership
• Your response to pressure
• Your generosity
• Your witness to others

Prayer

"Lord, show us Your glory. We don't want merely what You can do for us. We want You.
Reveal Your heart to us through Your Word. Teach us to love what You love and desire what You desire. Thank You that through Jesus we can boldly enter Your presence. Change us as we behold You, so that Your character is reflected in our homes, our relationships, our work, and our world. Make us a people marked by Your presence. In Jesus' name, amen."