Moses said to the Lord in Exodus 33: 18, “Now show me your glory.” In response, God said in Exodus 33: 19-20, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
No words and imaginations anywhere can adequately describe the nature, expanse, depth and height of God’s glory, part of which are his goodness; his mercy; and his compassion. His glory also manifests in when, how, where, on whom, and to whom he shows his glory, hence no one has seen his face and lived. Moses wanted to see God’s awesome nature comprising his goodness, power, grace, mercy, steadfast love, peace, faithfulness, beauty, countenance, majesty, awesome nature etc. without end.
Preparing to receive God’s glory
Moses was bold to ask to see God’s glory because God confirmed to him in Exodus 33: 17, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name. God shows his glory to those with whom he is pleased; and those he knows, his righteous. After Israel performed their sin, burnt and fellowship offerings, Leviticus 9: 23 says, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. John 12: 41 says, Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
God’s glory always follows his righteousness. Numbers 20: 6 says, Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. Also God’s glory dwells in his house. Psalm 26: 8 says Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. (Read Psalm 96: 7). God’s dwelling includes our hearts. 1Corinthians 3: 16 says Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
Character of God’s glory
Glory comes from two sources, true glory (also called divine glory) comes from God; and fake glory, (also called earthly glory) comes from Satan. John 5: 44 says, you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from only God. Divine glory is eternal, and mentioned in Romans 9: 4. Satan’s glory is temporary and referred to in 1Peter 1: 24, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall. Satan’s glory yields torment and grief, Revelation 18: 7.
True glory comes from God. Hebrews 2: 7 says, you (God) made human beings a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour. Speaking of what he saw in his dream, Daniel 7: 14 said, he (Son of Man or Jesus) was given authority, glory and sovereign power. Only God’s glory is worthy of acceptance, hence Jesus said in John 5: 41, “I do not accept glory from human beings. He shared his glory with us in John 17: 22, I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. God’s glory is bestowed in suffering for Paul said in Romans 5: 3, we also glory in our sufferings.
Reflection
Only God gives true glory because he owns it. Psalm 24: 8, 10 ask, who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. God’s glory is above every glory. Isaiah 4: 5, over everything, the glory will be a canopy. May we accept his glory as our canopy rather than reject it. May we not lose God’s glory upon our lives because of sin. Hosea 9: 11 says, Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird- no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. Job 29: 20 says, my glory will not fade. May we guard our God-given glory in righteousness. Isaiah 48: 11 says, I will not yield my glory to another. Are we ready to suffer for Christ Jesus for the sake of his eternal glory? Whose glory is our canopy?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, by your Holy Spirit, let your glory be our canopy. Help us to preserve your glory upon our lives in righteousness, even in our suffering for you. Let our glory come from you and not the world. For this reason, wash our sins away in your blood and save our souls today renewing our desire to serve you always in truth. We pray in your blessed Holy name, Amen!!
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