Show Me Thy Glory %

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory (Exodus 33:18, KJV)

When Moses descended from Mt. Sinai after spending 40 days and nights with God, he made a unique request: “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” What did Moses want to see?

He had witnessed the burning bush and awe-inspiring miracles in Egypt. He had seen the guiding pillar of cloud and fire. He had just spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai conversing with God as one speaks to a friend. So, what more did he want to see?

At the heart of his request, Moses yearned to see God as He really is. As the NET Bible notes suggest, he wanted to “see the real You.” Moses sought a clearer, physical vision of God. He knew that all they had witnessed, such as the fire and cloud, were merely physical manifestations of God’s presence. Despite the splendor of these experiences, Moses sensed there was more to see.

This longing to see God’s true form didn’t end with Moses. Philip told Jesus, “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us” (John 14:8, KJV). Moses’s request echoes in these words.

While Moses’s prayer was only partially answered, God later promised through Isaiah:

“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together: For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:5, KJV)

Years later, this promise came to fruition as God manifested in the flesh through Jesus (John 1:14). God granted Moses’s yearning by bringing him onto the mountain of Transfiguration to see Jesus( Matt. 17:3)! Today, however, Jesus is no longer physically present, but His glory endures and intensifies on Earth. Paul explains this beautifully:

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6, KJV)

So God reveals His glory to you today by illuminating your heart with the knowledge of the Person of Jesus Christ. As you see His face, you are transformed into what you see(2 Cor. 3:18).

Meditate

Do you also yearn to witness God’s glory?

Apply the Word

Jesus is the glory of God—the full visible expression of God’s Person (Hebrews 1:3). To see God’s glory, look at Jesus’ face, delve into the Word, and yearn to know Him better.