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.
Moses then petitions for the Children of Israel. He reminds the LORD that they are “Thy” people. Moses identifies as one of these children. He also desired that they might receive grace from the LORD and grow into the relationship with Him. “Consider that these are Thy people.”
The LORD now answers Moses. He makes a promise to Moses. Note that the English pronoun is the singular one. “My presence will go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” He assures Moses that the LORD will continue to be with Him and will guide Moses into rest. The LORD makes this promise to Moses, but He does not extend it to the rest of Israel. Moses would find rest, but the rest of Israel was not included.
Moses responds to the LORD by saying that if the LORD did not go before him (Moses) then don’t bring us to the Promised Land. Moses will not separate himself from the rest of Israel, his kinfolk. He tells the LORD that this was an act of witness to others and proof that both Moses and the Children of Israel had truly found grace in His sight. This reception of grace would prove that the LORD had set them apart in the eyes of the other nations. Israel had acted like all the surrounding nations by worshiping the golden calf. They were in desperate need of grace.
The LORD responds by accepting Moses’ petitions. He would bring up both Moses and the Children of Israel. Moses’ intercession had worked. This is what made Moses a great leader. He could have been in it for himself. He could have taken up the LORD on his offer to consume Israel and replace it with Moses’ descendants. the temptation must indeed have been great as the Children of Israel had also tried Moses’ patience and had made threats against him. But Moses cared for the people he had been chosen to lead.
Moses now makes an even more audacious petition. He wants to see the LORD in all of His glory. This shows that Moses’ heart was wholly committed to seeking the LORD. The children of Israel were content to see the LORD from a safe distance. Moses had the great privilege of meeting with the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. Even this experience was so intense that Moses's face shone, so much so that he had to veil his face when he returned to camp. He had had great experiences with the LORD. But he still wanted more.
The LORD responds to the petition by saying that He would show Moses all good. He would also proclaim the name of Yahweh before Him. He also asserted His Divine Sovereignty by saying that He would show mercy to whosoever He willed. This is the true meaning of free grace, that God is free to extend or withhold grace according to His good pleasure. However, this is not some sort of fatalism. The LORD could be petitioned. In fact, He wants to be petitioned. He also wants His people to intercede for each other, and even for unbelievers. There is a big difference between Yahweh and the god of the Greek philosophers who hold to the idea that god is unable to interact with us because that would involve a change in god which was conceptually impossible for the Greeks. the fancy term for this is “aseity.” We do assert that God is unchangeable concerning His essential nature. He is who He is, who He was, and who He shall ever be. One cannot enter into a relationship with the Greek unmoved mover. But the LORD desires relationship. Even the words from John 1:14 assert this. The Eternal Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. He left the utter holiness of heaven and came to earth and lived with us in this sinful world. He made common cause for us and interceded for us. He suffered and died on the cross for our sins. He was raised on the third day and then ascended back to the Father, where He sits at His right hand until the time of Jesus’ return. The Word becoming flesh was an entirely foolish concept to the Greeks because it involved change in God. He who is the Eternal Word, the second member of the Holy Trinity became flesh. He entered into relationship with us. He is not a conceptual god far removed from us and unable to interact with us. The intercession which made Moses great is even greater in Jesus Christ. He is the true leader who made common cause with us, not that we might continue in sin, but by His grace to transform us into His special people.
Would we that we should have the same eagerness to see God’s glory in its fullness. Some saw Him on this earth in Jesus Christ. As Charles Wesley puts it in the famous Carol: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the Incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with man to dwell. Jesus our Emmanuel.” The believer has also been graced with the Holy Spirit. We are given a foretaste of the fullness of glory to be revealed.
Moses was told that He could not see God in His fullness, as long as he resided in a mortal body. No human could see God in all His glory and live. Moses would have to be content with what the LORD provided. However, He would hide Moses in the cleft of the rock with His hand as the name of the glorious LORD was pronounce. He would then let Moses get a glimpse of Him after He passed by.
We learn from this text that we need to be interceders for others like Moses and Jesus did. We should also realize that leadership requires common cause with those placed under the leader’s authority. Too often, worldly leaders use their authority to enrich themselves. They do not care what happens to the common people. They are but pawns on the chessboard, to use and abuse as it seems fit to them. Although we have little control over earthly leaders other than making petition to the LORD, leaders in His Church must not fall into the trap of abusing the members placed under them by the LORD. It is all too true that we are desperately in need of grace. We also tend to abuse those God has placed in authority over us. We rejoice in the fact the aven when we are all to captivated by the trappings of this world unto enslavement, that the Lord Jesus and His faithful followers are interceding for us. We should also be among those who wish to see the LORD in His full glory. That day will come.
Today, we suffer much from the world. Modern Israel faces an existential crisis, We could think that this is Israel’s greatest threat. Will their leaders be able to deliver them? Are they up to the challenge? Are they for the people or for themselves? God only knows. But Israel faces an even greater threat. This is the very threat that the Children of Israel faced in the days of Moses and even in the days in which Jesus walked the earth. No amount of worldly measure can truly deliver Israel or anyone else from slavery to worldly practices. The true Israel receives Jesus as Lord and Savior. Until people turn to Him, there is no hope, ultimately speaking. We have the message of the Gospel. Both Jew and Gentile need to hear it. Are we interceding for them? Do we desire to draw closer to the Lord? Let us ponder these things. Isn't it time for a conversation with God?
