“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’”- (New International Version, 2011, Exodus 34:6-7)
Moses desired to know God. Though he spoke with Him face-to-face, Moses wasn’t content with what he knew of God. Something in him longed for more. He understood that there were dimensions of God he had yet to experience. So, he said, “Show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18, NIV), and God responded by passing before Moses and proclaiming His own name and character. For one of the first times in Scripture, God spoke concerning His nature. Often, through reading about His acts and sayings, you can surmise and prescribe specific character traits. However, in these verses, He makes His character crystal clear. There is no need for speculation. The very essence of who He is is found in these verses.
Something I find particularly interesting about God’s response to Moses is that, instead of meeting Moses’s expectations by displaying raw power, God chose to reveal His nature. Why? It is because God desired that Moses know the One behind the miracles. Moses had seen enough signs and wonders to last him a lifetime, so God was interested in maintaining Moses’s status as friend. In Exodus 33:11 NIV, we see “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” God is so much more than what He can do. He isn’t here to entertain us but to be in a genuine and intimate relationship with us.
It is evident that God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, desires to be known. He desires to be known in such a real and tangible way that all flesh would be drawn to Him- to Him where there exists a love that knows no bounds. From the beginning, we see the expression of God’s desire to be loved by His people. In love, He created mankind in His image and likeness so that through man the Earth might reflect the beauty and order of heaven. God desired that mankind would have authority and be in continual fellowship with Him, so much so that He placed them in an environment just to dwell amongst them. This fellowship was intended to be eternal. However, because there is an enemy who seeks to steal, to kill, and to destroy, mankind fell into sin and was separated both spiritually and physically from the Creator. In sin, man was forced out of the perfect harmony established in the garden, and as a result, was drawn to other gods whom they did not know. This separation birthed in man a sin nature that opposes God. Yet man was left with this God-sized void that only He can fill. In an attempt to satisfy this inexplicable emptiness, creation went on further to give themselves to gods that were handmade- gods that they could see, touch, and comprehend. Rather than returning to their first love, man endeavored to forge their own path to discovery and purpose, never once considering the One in whom they have their being.
Yahweh, however, who knows all things, had a plan to redeem humanity through His Son, Jesus Christ. His Son would be the ultimate sacrifice, and in Him, we would have life and life more abundantly. In Jesus, we see and know the Father. We are reintroduced to our first love. Jesus satisfies our craving to be close to the divine, and the chasm that was created by sin was sealed forever. Through Jesus, God once again dwelt amongst His creation, and all that was lost to the devil was restored to us. But also, we have been given something greater, a gift that man didn’t have in the beginning, and that is the indwelling of God’s Spirit. For all who trust in Christ, God has made it impossible to be without His presence by giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. No longer do we have to wonder who and where this God is.
For those of you who are yet to know Him or who still feel a sense of distance, God is calling you to Him. He isn’t hiding Himself or playing mind games with you. In fact, He continually declares His love, mercy, and compassion toward you. The problem is that you miss Him because you deny your need for Him and seek to find fulfillment in other things. You look for Him in relationships, entertainment, or even substances. But He says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV). God is waiting to be found by you.
Now, the question you may be asking is, “So, how do I seek and find this God?” The answer is simple. You seek Him and find Him in His Word. Through reading the Bible, you come into the knowledge and revelation of His character, ways, and power. All these dimensions of God are essential for knowing Him accurately. In Scripture, you see God as He truly is and not for who man thinks He is, what your circumstances suggest Him to be, or what the enemy wants you to believe. He testifies of Himself, and all He says is true. Romans 3:4, NIV says, “Let God be true, and every human being a liar.” When He says He is the Living God, it is true. When He says that He is the Almighty, it is true. When He says that He is the Redeemer, it is true. God is incapable of being and acting in any way that is inconsistent with what He has spoken. All that He is and does is rooted in truth.
Today, just take a moment to tell God, “I want to know you.” Tell Him how confused you are with all the other “gods” vying for your attention. Ask Him to reveal Himself and confirm that He is the one true God, the Eternal King. As you commit to seeking Him daily through His Word, you will find your faith increasing. The doubts and questions you once struggled with begin to fade, and the knowledge of Him consumes you. Evidence of knowing Him isn’t found in visual encounters with Him alone, but it is in the renewing of your mind and the transformation that takes place in your heart. Knowing Him means considering Him in everything you do. It means inviting Him into every area of your life, including the ones you think are broken and hopeless. Knowing Him brings a freedom that the world could never know, and it is all available to you. So, lean into Him today and allow Him to show you His glory.
Prayer: God, give me a hunger and thirst for you.