Moses said to God, "Look, you tell me, 'Lead this people,' but you don't let me know whom you're going to send with me. You tell me, 'I know you well and you are special to me.' If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don't forget, this is your people, your responsibility."
14 God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end."
That's exactly how I've felt lately!! "God, I'm just sitting here waiting, waiting for you to show me your plans! I want to love Your people, I want to do Your work...DO FREAKIN SOMETHING!!!" And God says, "I'll see the journey to the end, Mary. I haven't left you. We're in this together, you and I."
15-16 Moses said, "If your presence doesn't take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you're with me in this, with me and your people? Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we're special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?"
17 God said to Moses: "All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name."
Wait, God does what Moses asks?? Why? Did God change His mind? Can God change His mind???
18 Moses said, "Please. Let me see your Glory."
Kind of demanding here, aren't we, Moses??? Ha, guess I'm not too different though. An alternate word for "glory" here would be face. Moses wants to see God's face? Why? Aren't we supposed to hold on to His hand? Doesn't He hold us in His hands? What's so special about His face???
19 God said, "I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you; I'll call out the name, God, right before you. I'll treat well whomever I want to treat well and I'll be kind to whomever I want to be kind."
20 God continued, "But you may not see my face. No one can see me and live."
Here's more of this "I'm God: I can do whatever I want, no matter how illogical and unfair it may seem to you." that I don't know what to do with except accept with faith and say ok. And trust, have faith that He does desire what's best for me and His children!! God does not want us to find faith in the glory of His majesty, but more in the glory of His mercy.
21-23 God said, "Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I'll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I've passed by. Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back. But you won't see my face."
God puts Moses in a protected place, He takes care of Moses even as He's pacifying Moses' request!! I've read that when God says "you'll see My back" what He meant was, "You'll get to see where I just was." Wow! And honestly, sometimes that's what it's like. We don't always get to see what God's doing and where He's going. Sometimes, we don't even see what He's doing right now at this very moment. But, we can always look back and see where He was and what He did. Kind of a hindsight kind of thing! Sometimes we even need others to point out or remind us of what God has done and what He promises He will do. We can cling to that, and be amazed at this God who loves us!
2 comments:
That describes the last 3 or so years perfectly... in the midst of all that we have and continue to go through, I have a hard time seeing God. But when I stop and look back, when I read on my own blog moments before now, I see where God has been! Thank you for this. :)
I really like you.
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