Living in the Spirit
October 24, 2017
Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:12-23
The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, “The Lord”; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But’, he said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ And the Lord continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’ –Exodus 33:17-23
I am terrible at remembering people’s names. I might be able to tell you someone’s whole life story but not their name. Oh, their name will come to me in the middle of the night when I do not need it but not when I am trying to introduce them to someone. Yes, I have tried all the association tricks and other memory aids.
Remembering names is important, I think. It says, “This person is of worth to me.” God knew Moses by name indicating to Moses that he was of worth to God. Moses wanted to know more of God. When Moses asked, “Show me your glory” he wanted insight regarding the very Godness of God. (If I can make up a word here.) God would not reveal his face to Moses.
I take a couple of things away from this. First, God knows all his children by name including you and me. We were each uniquely created an are each a key component of the Kingdom of God. Second, we are not God and should never presume to play God. We need to let God be God and we be the people God created us to be.
Prayer: Omnipotent Lord, forgive me when I fail to answer when you call my name. And forgive me when I mistake my role with yours. Amen.