Exodus 33:12  And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
13  Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
14  And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15  And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
16  For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
17  And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
18  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
21  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
22  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
23  And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Good leadership is important. Moses had accepted God’s call to lead the nation of Israel. Moses was not trying to be a one man-show. He knew he needed God’s continued guidance in his life. It is important for the servant of God to realize his dependance on God.
God had already declared that He had a very close relationship with Moses. Moses was a unique man in the multitude of Jews that were alive at that time. There was no other man like him. He had learned humility and he was willing to obey the LORD. God encouraged Moses here by telling him that he had found grace in God’s sight. That is important. God had earlier declared that Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
In verse 13 Moses asked God to prove to him that he had found grace in His sight. He wanted some clearer direction regarding the future. Moses wanted to be sure he was leading the nation of Israel the right way. He understood they were God’s people. He had responsibilities; however, he wanted further assurance that God would lead him the right way.
In verse 14 God declared that His presence would go with Moses. Moses would find rest in trusting in God. He had a great responsibility in leading the nation of Israel. However, it was not more than he could handle if he would trust the LORD to guide him. One of the problems we face is that we want to see more of the future, rather than simply trust God with what He gives us. God knows the future in every detail. He gives His servant what is needed and He knows how much detail we need to have. His way is often different than our way. His way is always right.
In verse 15 Moses declared that if God would not be there with them, then he did not want God to lead them any further along the way. Moses understood their dependence upon Him. The majority of the children of Israel did not see it that way, but Moses understood they were completely dependent upon Him.
Moses understood that they would know that God was with them, if God would remain close at hand. Moses was concerned that the other nations of the world would see God’s hand upon the children of Israel. The world had already seen that in their miraculous deliverance out of Egypt. They could also see that in how God provided for them in the wilderness. Moses wanted some further assurance from God.
In verse 17 we read that the LORD was willing to prove that His grace would be there for the people. God again assured Moses that he had found grace in God’s sight. He also reminded him that He knew him by name.
In verse 18, Moses asked to see the glory of the LORD. The LORD had already revealed His glory to Moses, but Moses wanted more. The LORD promised that He would make all His goodness pass before Moses. He would declare His name before Him as well. The LORD cannot be forced to help anyone. He will be gracious to those He chooses to be gracious to. He will have mercy upon those He chooses to be merciful to. Man does not have the right to demand anything of God. We are literally at His mercy. His mercy is unique. He does not give man what he deserves. He is willing to help man when He sees the response of the person.
In verse 20 God reminded Moses that he could not see God’s face. No man can see His face and live. God is holy and man is not holy. Moses was a man of God but he was still a man. He still sinned and he could not survive seeing God’s holiness in that way.
The LORD promised to do a unique thing for Moses. He would put Moses in the clift of the rock and He would cover him with His hand as He passed by. Moses was given a unique privilege here. No other man had such a unique event happen to him.
The LORD declared that He would cover Moses with His hand and then He would remove His hand and Moses would see God’s back parts. Moses would see the LORD in a very special way. God demonstrated His close relationship with Moses here. The LORD did not want Moses to die at this time, and He knew that if Moses would see His face, it would be too much for him. God was expressing His mercy to Moses here.
Man cannot enter into that realm of God while on this earth. Man must first of all be redeemed in order to have a relationship with God. Moses had that. Then man must be changed even more drastically than the new birth does. That drastic change will take place when the Lord Jesus Christ calls the saints out of this world. The apostle Paul addresses this matter in I Corinthians 15.

I Corinthians 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

God blesses those who know Him in this present world. That blessing is dependent upon the mercy of God, but also upon the submission of the individual to God. The apostles had a far greater relationship with God than the majority of Christians in the first century. Stephen was not an apostle but he had a great relationship with God as well. Yes, he was murdered for his faith, but he had a great impact upon the lives of those he touched. He was rewarded at death. They could have all repented and trusted in the Lord, but a large number chose to hate him and his message. However, there was one man, named Saul who would later be saved.
We do not see the final result of our service for the Lord in the here and now. That is for those who actually serve the Lord. The Lord told Moses he needed to be content to live within the realm of God’s grace. The apostle Paul was told that as well. We need to learn that as well. God has a purpose and a plan for each one of His children. If you are saved, trust in His plan and serve Him. We can ask for greater blessings, but we also must accept the blessings that God grants us. Don’t try to manufacture something your flesh desires, but God has said no to. If you are truly saved, God will show you how to avoid yielding to the flesh.
Pastor Bartel