God’s Glory Exodus 33-34

Exodus chapter The L ORD replied, “I will personally [My Presence will] go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest-everything will be fine for you.” 15 Then Moses said, “If you [Your Presence] don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that you look favourably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” 17 The L ORD replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favourably on you, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses responded, “Then show me your [glory] glorious presence.”

19 The L ORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, [a] before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 The L ORD continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. 22 As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”a 34 Then the L ORD told Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed. 2 Be ready in the morning to climb up Mount Sinai and present yourself to me on the top of the mountain. 3 No one else may come with you. In fact, no one is to appear anywhere on the mountain. Do not even let the flocks or herds graze near the mountain.”

4 So Moses chiselled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the L ORD had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the L ORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The L ORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The L ORD ! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”

If God said that directly to you, what would you say to God or ask God? Why did Moses ask God to “show me your glory”? …your glorious presence. What do think Moses expected? When do we use the word “glory”?

Definition of “Glory” The glory of anything is those assets or attributes which make someone or something impressive or great; whether an object, a people, a nation, or an individual. The glory of someone is their greatness. Primarily the word “glory” is used about God. 200 times in Old Testament “kabod” 150 times in New Testament “doxa”

Psalm 145 helps us understand God’s glory v4: "One generation will proclaim your mighty acts"; v5: "speak of your glory and majesty"; v 6: "speak of your mighty deeds"; v7: "tell of your goodness and sing about your kindness"; V8: “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger…. v11: "They will speak of the glory of your royal power and tell of your might”; v13 “The Lord is faithful to his promises and he is merciful in all his acts.” v14 “He helps the troubled, lifts the fallen, v18 is near to those who call on him, v19 supplies needs, hears the cries, v20 protects everyone who loves him.”

The Glory of God refers to the greatness of God’s power and God’s character; or the demonstration of these things in nature and history. God's Glory is whatever makes God appear impressive or awesome or great to people. God’s presence Creative acts Saving actions/Justice & righteousness Victory in battle Splendour of majesty Heaven Celebrating God or Jesus

So what happens when Moses asks to see God’s glory? A surprising thing… The L ORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you.”

God’s name translated into English as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” or “THE LORD”

Martin Luther wrote that true knowledge of God is based on a theology of the cross. "Left to our own devices", Luther said, "we would always think of God in terms of power and dominance and control. We would make God after our own image; we would think of Him as WE would want to be if WE were God."

"The chief purpose of humanity is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever". (Westminster Confession) To give glory to God is to live lives that are worthy of who our God is, lives that honour and respect God in all that we do, that reflect God’s nature and character, God’s goodness and grace, God’s forgiveness and humility. “The glory of God is a living man and the life of man consists in beholding God.” Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons “The glory of God is a person full alive; and a person fully alive consists in beholding God”