Exodus 33:12-14 English Standard Version

Moses’ Intercession

12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus was written by Moses. In this chapter he reveals an intimate conversation with God that says something about Moses. God answers Moses but what is at the core of Moses’ question??

It sounds like Moses trusts God because He has done what God commanded. Now Moses has all these people that are with him and Moses wants to know who he can trust.

I hear in Moses’ voice what I hear in myself. “I trust you Lord, I just don’t trust them.”

Why is it that knowing God knows me by name and that I have found His grace, that it is not enough to find trust in others? Moses shows signs of trust issues and I can see that because I suffer the same malady.

I am not the only person that questions those around me in a way that causes us to withhold  trust. I trouble myself with things that should not be any of my concern if I truly believe God is the Father of all mankind.

Moses begs to know God’s ways in order to receive more grace, as if what he already received wasn’t enough to give Moses rest from what troubles him.

John 1:16 English Standard Version (ESV) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

From His fullness we have received grace and will receive more grace and yet I feel that I am not full of grace myself. Perhaps that is because I have not completely died to self.

It now becomes about me, not Moses or God, just one more selfie, a picture of me in the moment. Have I changed? Sure, but not as much as I would like. I have not found that rest I want.