Show me Your Way

Exodus 33:13-15

13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

Looking at these verses, first look at verse 13, see what Moses asked for from the Lord and how he asked.

First, he says if I have found grace, please show me Your way.

The Hebrew word for grace here means favor and acceptance and kindness.

God looks at Moses with kindness; it states the Lord's intention to Moses.

And by extension, as God's people, to us.

Then Moses says show me Your way.

This could just as easily mean "the way".

The Hebrew word for "now" could just as easily be please, it is actually an interjection in this sentence.

How we would say this in our own English today is something like this:

"Please! Show me how I can know You and have favor with You."

This is what Moses is requesting.

Today, we know that Jesus is the Way.

He is the only way to know God and be a child of God.

If we want what Moses is requesting, to know God and find favor with Him as His child, we must come to Him through Jesus, our Savior.

Jesus tells us to know Him, is to know the Father.

Then Moses asks that the Lord consider Israel His people, His nation or flock to guide and protect.

In verse 14 God replies that His Presence, He Himself will go with them.

And He will give them rest.

Rest from labor and rest from troubles.

The Lord will watch over them and shield them and help them.

We should be praying and asking this for our nation.

Yes, because our nation is also sinful and unbelieving and stiff-necked.

All the more reason to pray, our nation needs God.

And see what Moses says next in verse 15.

If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

The intent is this:

Lord, if you are not coming with us, then let us stay here with you.

We do not want to go anywhere without you, God.

Take us where You want us to go.

And this is how we should be in our lives.

We should always want the Lord to be with us throughout our day, leading us.

And we should make sure we are not straying from Him.

Because God is faithful to us, Jesus said He will not leave us.

So then, we must be faithful to the Lord in return.

Just as Moses needed God's guidance and help in leading the nation of Israel, we need the Lord in our daily lives.

This world is dangerous, especially spiritually.

Take time to pray to the Lord, ask for His Presence and guidance in your life.

If the Lord isn't going where you want to go, change your destination.