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Show Me Your Glory

Text: Exodus 33
17 November 2019

An impasse encountered

1. The circumstances that led to this impasse

a. God was angry with the people of Israel…for building a gold calf   (Exodus 32)
b. His judgment was stated…but yet to be meted out
c. Moses had been praying and interceding on behalf of the people   (Exodus 32, 33)
d. But it came to a point when he couldn’t pray beyond a certain level

2. There seemed to be an impasse

a. Moses felt that there was this impasse
b. He couldn’t go beyond

Inspiration needed

1. Moses asked for the glory of God to be shown to him

“And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”   Exodus 33:18
a. He had already seen and sensed the glory of God
b. He realised that he needed something more

2. He was looking for inspiration from seeing the full glory of God

a. Perhaps through asking the Lord to show His glory, Moses would be inspired
b. He would be inspired to break through

3. But this was an impossible request

Going back to the initial understanding of God

1. The proclamation of God’s name   (Exodus 33:19, 34:5,6 )

a. God’s answer was to proclaim His name to Moses
b. The glory of God was seen in the name of God

2. The attributes of God   (Exodus 33:19, Ex 34:6-7)

a. Many attributes of God
i. Merciful
ii. Gracious
iii. Longsuffering
iv. Abounding in goodness and truth
v. Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin
b. All these attributes reflected the glory of God

3. Returning to what God had initially revealed to Moses

a. Reminded of the name of God
“Lord, Lord God”
b. All these attributes of God had already been revealed to Moses
c. Renewal found in the profundity of each attribute

4. Refocusing on the initial understanding of God and His glory

Impact

1. There was the creation of a renewed and stronger spirit in Moses

2. He was revived in the Lord and His name

3. He was able to break through the impasse felt

4. Renewal of prayer life

“Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord,
I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”   Exodus 34:9

Identifying with Moses

1. When things are stalled and we have an impasse

a. When we are dried up…due to sin
b. Stalled as we are not growing in life and ministry such as our prayer life.

2. Seek the face of the Lord for inspiration

3. Sense the glory of God in our understanding of Him

4. To be strengthened to carry on as we are impacted.