Show me Your Glory
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Text: Ex. 33:12-34-34:10 & 2 Cor. 3:7-11
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Pray: God speak through your Word and those who hear it and let them responsd and not resist or wait!
Introduction:
When our deepest desire is not the things of God or a favour from God, but God Himself, we cross a threshold. Less self focused and more God focused. Less about me and more about Him.
This evening I want to ask you what is your deepest desire?
How is this desire reflected through the way you live your life?
This evening I am going to be referencing Ex. 33:12-34:10
An anxious Moses pleads for help in verse 12
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.’
God has asked Moses to do a great task, he is scared and full of wonder, he is second guessing himself and wondering if he can really do this. You can hardly fault his fears. They were encircled by the Israelites who longed for Egypt. Then there were hot winds, blazing boulders, the ex-shepherd needs assurance. Moses needs to know that God is going to see Him through this. He is asking for help and assurance.
When we look at this scripture this evening there are three things I would like to identify:
God’s Intentions
God’s Confirmation
God’s Glory
I want to tell you a little background of this passage so that we can see what is happening in this instance. Moses is with the Israelites in the desert. He has led them out of Egypt, out of slavery.
Moses told the people that they are to go on towards the Promised Land. There was a land called the Promised Land that Moses was told to take these people towards that would means better lives and no more slavery.
They were told that God would defeat their enemies and they would proceed to a land that flowed with milk and honey. God told them that He would send an angel to defeat their enemies.
They were promised protection and guidance by an angel but not God’s personal protection.
Based on Moses’ prayer in veses 12-16
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?”
God did agree to go with them. In remorse the people did not wear their eings, necklacesm braceletsand anklets.
Where we begin looking at our text we see that despite the strained relationship between Israel and the Lord. Moses experienced true intimacy with God. This tet demonstrates that there is a unique relationship between God and Moses.
In the verses before our text we see that Moses was close to God. He met with God in his tent that was erected outside the camp. There people could go ahead and inquire of the Lord, for spiritual guidance.
This tent, although it was not the tabernacle, was called the tent of the meeting. When Moses entered the tent the pillar of cloud hovered at its entrance. The people’s sin at this point alienated them from God and it reminded them of this each time they went to the tent because it was outside the town. They could worship God but from a distance. He was outside their community.
When we look at our text, Moses is no longer in the camp with the people. He is away with God to the Mount of Transfiguration. This is where Moses has this private time with God. This is wher Moses asks God three times for the same thing - Show me your Glory!
God’s Intentions
God’s Intentions
Moses wanted to know God’s intentions for His people. God had told Moses to lead His people without His presence. Moses was concerned. God knew Moses by NAME!!!
Moses belonged to God. So Moses wanted to continue to learn God’s ways and enjoy God’s grace, God’s favor.
This is where Moses made his first petition in verse 13”Show me Your Way”.
In response to the Lord reversed His threat not to go with them and to give them rest.
God states it like this: “I myself will go with you… I will do what you ask because I know you very well, and I am pleased with you”( v. 14-17)
God Confirms His Intentions
God Confirms His Intentions
Moses interceded on behald of the nation by reminding God that they were His people.
The absence of God’s presence with them in their journey to the Promised Land would pose serious peoblems for them.
Again, Moses asks in another way for God to show me your glory. They way it is put is found in verses 15-16.
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
The way this reads to me says if we have have not favor with you we do not want to leave. We need your favor, we NEED your presence, your GLORY!!!
God states it like this
“I myself will go with you… I will do what you ask beacuse I know you very well, and I am pleased with you” (v. 14 & 17).
You’d think that would be enough for Moses, but he lingers. Thinking perhaps about the last “I will do what you ask...” Perhaps God will indulge one more request. So he swallows, sighs, and requests…
What do you think he will ask?
He has God’s attention. God seems willing to hear His prayer.
“The Lord spoke to Moses as a man speaks with His friend”.
What request will he make?
The suspense seems to build. So many requests how could he push for yet another one?
Certainly Moses at this time in his leadership of this nation was frustrated and he could have easily asked God to turn those people into sheep?
If he did would have would we have blamed him for asking that?
Those stiff necked, unappreciative, cow-worshipping, ex-slaves who grumble with every step.
Only a few months before, Moses was in the same desert, neay the same mountain, keeping an eye on the flock. What a difference this time around. Sheep don’t make demands in a desert or a mess out of blessings. And they don’t make a calf out of gold ask to back into Egypt - SLAVERY!!!!
And what about Israel’s enemies? Battlefields lie ahead. The task of leading this group is going to be hard and great. The road will be rough. Combact with the Hitties, Jebusites...
They infest the land.
Can Moses mould an Army out of a pyramid building Hebrews?
“Could you just get us right to Canaan?”
This could have been the request that Moses dared to ask God. But was it?
Moses knew what God could do. The entire AncientEast knew. They were still talking about Aaron’s stadd becoming a snake and the Nile becoming blood. Air so thick that gnats you breathed them. Ground so layered with locusts you crunched them. Noon day blackness. Hail pounding crops. Flesh landscaped with boils. Funerals for their firstborn.
God turned the Red Sea into red carpet. Man fell, quail ran, water bubbled from rock within a rock. GOD CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!!!
In fact, God moved the very mountain of Sianai on which Moses stood. When God spoke, Sinai on which Moses stood. When God spoke, Sinai shook, and Moses’ knees shook just the same as the mountain. Moses knew what God could do.
The people were staying and lingering in the past but Moses realized that He needed a fresh touch. A fresh taste of God’s presence. Without that Moses felt that he was not equipped to lead these people, without that he could not move another step.
Have you ever caught a glimpse of God’s glory?
“Show me your radiance”, Moses is praying.
“Flex your biceps”. Let me see the S on your chest.
Your pre-eminence. Your heart-stopping, ground shaking, extra-spectacularness.
There was no desire for Moses to ask for power or youth. He could live with the aging body, but he stated “I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT YOU!!!! I WANT MORE GOD!!!
PLEASE MORE OF YOUR GLORY!
Why did Moses want to see God’s greatness?
Why did Moses want to see God’s greatness?
Why should a glimpse of God’s glory change someone forever?
Why do you search for a rainbow in the mist or gaze at the ocean surf mesmerized or the Niagara hypnotized?
How do we explain our facination with such sights?
Beauty? YES
But doesn’t the beauty point to a beautiful someone?
Doesn’t the immensity of the ocean suggest an immense creator?
Doesn’t the rhythm of migrating cranes and beluga whales hint of a brilliant mind?
And isn’t that what we desire?
A beautiful maker?
An immense creator?
A God so mighty that He can comission the birds and command the fish?
“Show me your Glory God”, Moses begs.
Forget the bank he wants the Royal mint, the great treasury.
He needs to walk in the vault of God’s wealth.
Would you stun me with your strength?
Numb me with your wisdom in the spray of the cataract of grace, a glimpse of your glory. God. This is the prayer of Moses.
And what is even more powerful is God ANSWERS it!
I love the way that He answers it.
He places his srvant in the cleft of the rock telling Moses:
But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
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.”
And so Moses, cowering beneath the umbrella of God’s plan, waits, surely with face bowed, eyes covered and pulse racing until God gives the signal.
When the hand lifts, Moses’ eyes covered and pulse racing, until God gives the signal.
When the hand lifts, Moses’ eyes do the same and catch a glimpse a distant disappearing glance of the back parts of God. The heart and center of the Maker is too much for Moses to bear. A fading glimpse will have to do.
I am seeing the long grey hair of Moses wind-whipped forward and his leathery hand grabbing a rock in the wall so he won’t fall. And as the shoulders, we see the impact. His face Gleaming Bright as if backlit by a thousand torches. Unknown to Moses, but undeniable to the Hebrews. When he descended the mountain “The sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face”
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,
Witnesses saw, not anger in his haw or worry in his eyes or a scowl on his lips; they saw God’s glory on his face.
Did he have a reason for anger?
Cause for worry?
Of course challenges, but now having seen God’s face, he can face them.
Shouldn’t Moses request be ours this evening?
We are living in a time where people are searching, where we as Christians are stopping and starting in their walk with God but this evening we need to take a look at what is important!
Taking time to ask God “SHOW ME YOUR GLORY!!!”
Forget about the programs, time shedules, and focus on God!!!
That is the sole reason we attend, that is what we long to impart in ou children, teenagers, and young adults. This evening it is time to pay attention to the desire and longing in the second book of the Bible. Cry out to God for a fresh touch from Him, leave this place this evening with a glow on your face where others will have to look away because they can’t look directly at you because the glow of His presence is so powerful.
Where people would not need to ask where you have been because it is written all over your being.
Show me Your Glory Lyrics
I caught a glimpse of Your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I'll never be the same
Show me Your Glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your Glory
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord
When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won't settle for ordinary things
I'm gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won't rest 'til I see You again
Show me Your Glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your Glory
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord
No, no
Show me Your Glory
(Show me Your Glory, Lord)
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your Glory
(Show me Your Glory, Lord)
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord
Show me Your Glory
(Show me Your Glory, Lord)
Show me Your Glory
(Show me Your Glory, Lord)
I can't live without You
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