Exodus 33:17-18 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” And Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
In the 90′s television show “Home Improvement”, Tim Allen often sought advice from one of his neighbors called ”Wilson,” who peered over the fence and offered his view on many of Tim’s difficult moments. We could see Wilson’s eyes, but we never saw his face. I remember having the feeling that I wanted to climb inside the television and jump over the fence to see what Wilson looked like.
It is only natural that when we speak to someone, we would like to see what the person looks like that we are talking to.
After many conversations with the Lord, Moses asked the Lord one day if he could be permitted to see His face. The Lord explained to Moses that “No man could see God’s face and live”. If a mortal man who had committed sin, were to come into contact with God, he would immediately be consumed by the intensity of God’s Glory.
Exodus 33:20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
The Book of Lamentations speaks of the fact that it is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed:
Lamentations 3:22 Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
The Lord earnestly desires fellowship with us. He created us to walk and talk with Him, just as Adam did in the cool of the garden. Since our fall and our nature towards sin, it is impossible for a Holy God to have fellowship with sinful man.
If the Lord should bring any mortal, sinful human being into His presence, the Purity of His Glory would immediately consume us. Because He is full of mercy, He will not allow any of us to see His face before we have come into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Once our sins are cleansed by Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we can come into His presence at any time and speak to Him face to face.
In our daily walk with the Lord today, let us make it our declared desire to the Lord, how greatly we want to see Him face to face. May we remember how much He loves us and thank Him today for sending His Only Son to take our punishment so that we can walk with Him forever.
Rob Robinson
