Exodus 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
The children of Israel had done badly. The greatest moment in their history to that time had just happened at Mount Sinai. God is so far above us. We cannot look upon him and live. If he had not hidden us in the cleft of the rock we’d not see him. If not for the blood we’d not see him. Today, what do you need for the New Year? If you asked God for your need what would it be? In our carnality we look at others and say he needs this or she needs that. I want you to think about your need.
Moses knew his people needed the Lord. While he was getting the Ten Commandments, the people made a golden calf. In less than 40 days they lost faith. If you and I don’t keep our eyes on God we’ll be making golden calves. If there was ever a time to stick together it is now. There is one God to serve. Before Moses asked God to show him his glory, he asked to be shown his way. He had let God down too, but he knew by faith that the Promised Land was there. He needed the way.
God told Moses to stand at a certain place on a rock and his goodness would be displayed. He’d behold the goodness as God approached. God would cover him with his hand into the cleft of the rock. As God passed by, Moses would see God’s glory. We can see where God has been. Look back. If you sought the Lord you found him. If not, the problem was in your court not God’s. We’re shortsighted. Take a look back where God has already been. I Corinthians 10:4 says and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. God made a Rock in the wilderness. Christ followed them. When Moses came off the mountain from receiving the commandments his face was so shiny the people couldn’t look at him. God led them through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. All they needed was the back part. They could see where God was.
Do you want to see God? Climb into the cleft of the Rock. A cleft was made in his side on the cross and blood and water flowed out. When we make Jesus first and Lord of our life he’ll put us in the cleft of his side and cover us by the blood. One day we’ll see him as he is in all his glory. For now, just climb into the cleft. Ask God to show you his way. You’ll see his goodness and his glory.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 