Bible Verse
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 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.”
— Exodus 33:18-23 NIV
Reflection
Recently that passage from Exodus has popped up in different places. It feels like everywhere I turn, I see that message. It’s enough to make me pay attention and ponder.
I started thinking how amazing it would have been for Moses to see God pass by like that. Even just seeing God’s back–that’s amazing! I can’t imagine how I would feel. I’d probably faint. I would be in awe for sure. What a privilege of a lifetime in that moment for Moses.
I was sharing about this Bible passage with a friend as we walked through the autumn landscape at a nearby waterfall. As I talked about how incredible it would have been for Moses to see God pass by, it occurred to me we also get glimpses of God’s glory: in the autumn landscape that shows His artistic handiwork, in the loving way He has created people in His image, in the beauty of worship, and simply in noticing His presence in our midst.
I started looking closely at the autumn scenery all around us, reflecting on how God was showing us glimpses of His glory in that place. What a privilege! We can find those glimpses all around us. We just need to take time to notice and look for His glory in creation.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your glory that is visible all around us. Thank You for the beauty You have created in our midst. Help us to pause and appreciate Your handiwork. You have created all of this, and You are here with us today so we can enjoy Your presence. Thank You for the privilege of every glimpse of Your glory we see each day. Thank You for the peace and joy that comes with each glimpse; for the comfort and awesomeness of knowing You are right here with us, and that here with us is where You want to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Thought for the Day
Where do you see a glimpse of God’s glory in your midst today?
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Song: Show Me Your Face
Whenever I read that passage from Exodus 33, I think of this song. And whenever this song comes to mind, I remember that Bible passage. Beautiful!
