Exodus 33:12-19
One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.” 

The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” 

Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably 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.” 

The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” 

Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” (NLT)

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Can goodness, mercy, and compassion be too concentrated? 

Apparently, yes. 

Moses discovered that God’s glorious presence is a firehose of his highest and best, his purest essence, his perfection of beauty. His divine attributes are so rich that sinful humans like us cannot approach them without melting away like the wax wings of Icarus.

Fast forward to Matthew 6:9. 

“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus brings us into the very presence of Our Father in Heaven. His righteousness imputed to us by his grace makes this possible. What we cannot do on our own, we can do in his company. His grace makes it possible for us to stand in the presence of the Almighty. 

The Apostle Paul pondered this truth and penned these words:

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We come into God’s presence confidently and joyfully because of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus brings us into the very presence of Our Father in Heaven. We have peace with God because Jesus’ perfect life, his atoning death, his victorious resurrection, and his glorious ascension did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. 

Where our sins once created a barrier preventing us from approaching God in all his goodness, now Jesus takes us where our deepest and truest self longs to be. There, we are washed, clean, and pure. There, we are most deeply loved, cherished, and welcome. 

Ponder with Paul. Walk with Jesus. Experience peace with God. Know the undeserved privilege of standing in God’s presence confidently and joyfully now and forever. 

These truths are too rich for written words or sincerest speech. Let us think long and deeply about this grace greater than our sin, about this love deeper than the night, brighter than the day, enduring forever. Let us meditate on his heart so full it cannot help but overflow into our lives as we humbly receive more goodness than we can contain.

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I will live in wonder of God’s glorious presence.

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Our Father, Moses glowed after he spent time in your glorious presence. May we likewise glow with your goodness. May we bear your beauty everywhere we go and in everything we do. May others be drawn to your light through our lives. Amen.