The Intercession of Moses
Reading: Exodus 33
My Verse: "And the LORD said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight and I know you personally and by name" (33:17).
This is powerful in so many ways! Moses has grown so incredibly not only as a leader but also in his relationship with You, LORD God. Moses again intercedes for the people of Israel.
This man who once claimed he couldn't talk before people now boldly comes before You, asking that You not leave the people. You, LORD God told Moses. "Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the way" (33:3). You said You would send an angel before them but You Yourself would not be there. Moses would not accept this. He pleaded with You that You go with them all the way. He would settle for nothing less. He even begged You to not send them if You would not be there with them. "And Moses said to the LORD, if Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here" (33:15)!
Oh, LORD God, what does this teach me - this story of the intercession of Moses?
You tell Moses that You "will do this thing also that you have asked" for several reasons.
First, because he has "found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight." Oh, LORD God You are a merciful God. You are a loving God. You are a kind God. Simply by following You, LORD God, by being obedient to Your guidance You will bestow upon us the fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). You will heal and transform us to be the kind of people You want us to be that we may find favor, loving-kindness and mercy in Your sight.
Then You tell him, "I know you personally." Oh, LORD God what a wonder - to be known personally by You! When Moses went to the tent to call on You, You did not ignore Him but You met with him there. "When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would talk with Moses" (33:9). You were angry with the people but You would not turn Your back on Moses because You knew Him personally. You had a relationship with him. You loved him.
Finally, You say You knew his name. That is a powerful thing. I do not fully understand the power in this but I sense that there is so much more to this than I can grasp. You use You name at crucial times throughout scripture to show the power of it. When Moses requested that he be allowed to see Your glory You said to him. "And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD before you. . ." Back in Exodus 3:14. You say. "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites; I AM has sent me to you." Philippians 2:10 tells us, "so that at the name of Jesus every knew should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Yes, there is great power in a name, especially in Your name, LORD Jesus!
Thank You for this lesson of how if I have a relationship with You, You will answer me when I call on You, because I have "found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy" in Your sight and You know me "personally and by name."
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Exodus 33
My Verse: "And the LORD said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight and I know you personally and by name" (33:17).
This is powerful in so many ways! Moses has grown so incredibly not only as a leader but also in his relationship with You, LORD God. Moses again intercedes for the people of Israel.
This man who once claimed he couldn't talk before people now boldly comes before You, asking that You not leave the people. You, LORD God told Moses. "Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the way" (33:3). You said You would send an angel before them but You Yourself would not be there. Moses would not accept this. He pleaded with You that You go with them all the way. He would settle for nothing less. He even begged You to not send them if You would not be there with them. "And Moses said to the LORD, if Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here" (33:15)!
Oh, LORD God, what does this teach me - this story of the intercession of Moses?
You tell Moses that You "will do this thing also that you have asked" for several reasons.
First, because he has "found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight." Oh, LORD God You are a merciful God. You are a loving God. You are a kind God. Simply by following You, LORD God, by being obedient to Your guidance You will bestow upon us the fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). You will heal and transform us to be the kind of people You want us to be that we may find favor, loving-kindness and mercy in Your sight.
Then You tell him, "I know you personally." Oh, LORD God what a wonder - to be known personally by You! When Moses went to the tent to call on You, You did not ignore Him but You met with him there. "When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would talk with Moses" (33:9). You were angry with the people but You would not turn Your back on Moses because You knew Him personally. You had a relationship with him. You loved him.
Finally, You say You knew his name. That is a powerful thing. I do not fully understand the power in this but I sense that there is so much more to this than I can grasp. You use You name at crucial times throughout scripture to show the power of it. When Moses requested that he be allowed to see Your glory You said to him. "And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD before you. . ." Back in Exodus 3:14. You say. "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites; I AM has sent me to you." Philippians 2:10 tells us, "so that at the name of Jesus every knew should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Yes, there is great power in a name, especially in Your name, LORD Jesus!
Thank You for this lesson of how if I have a relationship with You, You will answer me when I call on You, because I have "found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy" in Your sight and You know me "personally and by name."
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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