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.’ – Exodus 33:17-20 NRSV
Moses has come down from Sinai having received the commandments and was preparing to lead the people again on the journey to the promised land. God had declared that an angel would lead them. But Moses again argued and bargained with God; insisting that the Almighty be visibly present with the people. “For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us?” He is also asking to see God face-to-face.
Here God responds that no human is capable of comprehending all that God is. We can catch glimpses and gain insight, but the totality of God cannot be contained, even in our vast imagination and intellect. So God allows Moses to see His back as he passes.
The point God is making is this: God cannot be constrained, nor will God be put in a box. We must not use God for our own limited purposes. God is saying “If you want me to lead you, then let me lead!” and “I love you and will be with you, but I am going to do things my way.”
In this time of ongoing crisis, it is right and good to call upon our God. God will respond and be with us. And then we must be prepare to allow God to lead us into new ways of being.
Two songs are running through my mind right now. The first is “Take Me or Leave Me” from Rent. The second will be today’s prayer:
Perhaps you have seen the meme – “If God is your co-pilot, change seats.”
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
over life’s tempestuous sea;
unknown waves before me roll,
hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
As a mother stills her
child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will
When Thou sayest to them, “Be still!”
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
Though the sea be calm and
bright,
sparkling with the stars of night,
and my ship’s path be ablaze
with the light of halcyon days,
still I know my need of thee,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
–Edward Hopper, 1871
Your questions for Sunday’ s message:
1. What is the difference between human justice and divine
justice?
2. When have you used Caesar’s methods for God’s work?
3. How can you show that you bear the image of God?