More.

Do you want more?

I recently read Exodus 33 and was struck by several things. This is the story where God tells Moses to take the people and go and then Moses asks to see God’s glory.  That’s a brief synopsis of the situation, but to me, there’s a greater story interwoven throughout their interaction.

It’s about identity and relationship.

First, Moses is having a PERSONAL, one on one conversation with the creator of the universe.  Can you imagine?  Exodus 33:11 says, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend…” The Lord called Moses his friend. Whoa.  So what does Moses want to know in this personal, friend conversation with the Lord?  Moses wants to know, “Are you with me?”

Are you with me?

Over and over Moses asks, “If you’re with me, If you’re for us, If we’re yours”, and over and over God says, “I AM with you. I AM for you.  You are mine.” Then Moses does the unthinkable.  He says, “Now show me your glory.”

Now show me your glory.

Moses did not ask, “Will you please show me your glory?”  He did not ask, “If it’s ok with you, will you show me your glory?” Moses says, “Now show me your glory,” like he’s from Missouri.* There’s a boldness to that statement that speaks to deep understanding of who God is and who he is to Moses.  Moses isn’t waiting to get struck down by lightning for pushing God too hard on something – Moses almost demands it.  But why?

I think it’s because Moses really believed what the Lord told him. The Lord told Moses he was with him.  He said Moses had his favor and it looks like Moses BELIEVED IT.  Moses bought into it and owned it.  He did ask the Lord multiple times if He was with him, but each time the Lord answered, he said that Moses was found in Him and it stuck.  Once that was truly rooted in Moses’ heart, he felt bold enough to unapologetically say, “Now let me see your glory.”

You are with me.  You are for me. 

Now that’s a person who KNOWS he is loved.  He KNOWS he is the Lord’s beloved.  He KNOWS that he is safe in the Lord’s presence and found there.  Now think about this….Moses is the same dude that killed someone.  He was a murderer.  He was afraid to go against the pharaoh and lead the people.  He was a chicken.  He had these and many more reasons to cower in front of God and beg for forgiveness.  He could have wavered with his weak voice.  There are any number of things that Moses could have done, but he didn’t.

What Moses did do was talk straight to the Lord like he was exactly what the Lord said he was – HIS.  The Lord said, “I am with you.  I have you.  I’ll go with you,” so Moses boldly asked to see more of who God is.

Now show me your glory.

You know what’s awesome?  The Lord didn’t reprimand Moses for his directness or his get on to him for speaking so boldly to Him because Moses was HIS.

Do you know that you are HIS?  The Lord calls you Beloved.  He calls you Chosen.  He calls you by name.  Your name is engraved on his palms.  He knows the number of hairs on your head.  He has seen and counted every tear.  He knows you better than you know yourself.  He knows every pain.  He knows every fear.  He knows your heart.  What if you let yourself believe that?

What if you actually believed that you are fully known by God?

If you really did believe it, would you approach the Lord like Moses did?  Would you boldly tell him you wanted to see more of him?

You can’t imagine how he wants that.  He’s waiting for you to say it any time you’re ready.  If you have to ask him over and over if he’s really with you and for you like Moses, then do it!  He wants to do for you what he did for Moses.  He’ll tell you that he is for you and he is with you as many times as you need to hear it until you really believe it.  So, why not give it a try?

“Lord, are you for us and with us?”

“YES, beloved.  Resoundingly YES.”

Then show us more of you.

That’s it lovelies.  It’s that simple.  The Lord is no respecter of persons, so if he did it for Moses, he’ll do it for you.**  He is for you.  He is with you.  Approach him boldly and tell him you want more of him and watch and see how he’ll come through.***  He always does.

   *Missouri is known as the Show Me state. 
   ** Acts 10:34-35
   ***Hebrews 4:16