A Conversation With God

A Conversation with God

Exodus 33:12-23

Moses was an extraordinary person who lived in extraordinary times. The nation of Israel was in great danger. Unlike the situation that Modern Israel faces today, it was not the invasion of its territory by its neighbors. It was under threat by Yahweh Himself. After the worship of the golden calf, the LORD was going to consume them in the wilderness (Exodus 32:10). He was going to replace the descendants of Israel with those of Moses and make him a great nation. But Moses interceded for them and the LORD relented. Swift punishment was meted out, and thousands died in the judgment. But the nation of Israel was spared as a whole.

We see at the beginning of chapter 33 that the LORD’s presence left the camp. He had dwelt in a special way with Israel in the midst of the camp. Moses pitched a tent (tabernacle) without the camp. Moses would go out there to speak with the LORD. It says that Joshua, who would later replace Moses abode there continually. The people were invited to go without the camp to meet the LORD with their petitions. Most seemed pleased to see the tent of meeting from afar off. There Moses would hold conversation with the LORD and the LORD talked with Moses as a friend. (Exodus 33:11) (For more information on Exodus 33:1-11, you can refer to the sermon “Without the Camp” which is in this sermon archive.)

This morning’s text records one of these conversations Moses had with the LORD. It starts with Moses who wants to know who the LORD will send to bring the people into the Land. The LORD had said that He would sent an angel before Him to bring up the people. He would keep His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But even if He had done as He threatened to consume Israel and save Moses and His descendants, He would still have remained faithful to His promise as Moses was a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the LORD knew Moses’ heart and knew what He would do in response in advance. Moses then reminds the LORD that He knew Moses by name. The King James English which makes distinction between the second person singular and plural (thou and ye) makes it clear that the LORD was addressing Moses and not the entire congregation. This does not mean that the LORD did not know Israel. He knew them all too well as being a stiffnecked and rebellious people. But the LORD knew Moses in a particular way. The Hebrew idea of “know” is more than just knowing the facts about a matter. It also indicates an intimacy of relationship. It was a friendly relationship. It was also based upon grace. No one can be the friend of God without it. Moses reminds the LORD that He had been gracious to Moses.

Having said this, Moses goes on to ask that this grace be demonstrated to him. He makes several petitions of the LORD. He asks the LORD to show Him the way. Moses, for all his expertise of 40 years in the Sinai wilderness as a shepherd knew about this land. He knew how to find water, provender, and shelter for his father-in law’s flock of sheep. This was a hard life. It must also be said that the LORD had shown grace to Moses even then in preserving him there. One should also be reminded of how he had been saved as an infant from death by the acts of his mother, his sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses was instructed in all the ways of Egypt as part of the royal family, As such, he was also a priest and taught how to read and write. It just happened that Moses was returned to his mother to nurse, who also educated him concerning his true identity. It is true that Moses had many gifts and talents. But none of this was sufficient to meet the challenges Israel faced in the wilderness. The word for “gift” is closely related to the word “grace.”

The second petition Moses makes is similar to the first. He asks that he might know the LORD and find grace in His sight. Moses had already made note the the LORD knew him. There was no need for the LORD to know better as the LORD knows perfectly in all facets of knowledge. The LORD remains always faithful. But here Moses wants to reciprocate. Like all humans, our knowledge is limited. Even Moses suffered from the debilitating effects of sin. This pervades our relationships as well. It can be said that the child first learns of his parents and siblings as well as other caregivers. The child knows his mother, but not to the extent he or she will know them later. From the human perspective, relationships grow (or fail) over time. So, Moses is asking that he might grow in his relationship with the LORD. He wants to know more information as well as closer intimacy.