When was the last time you actively pursued deeper understanding of God?

As children of God, we should always seek to know Him more. Our desire for intimate fellowship with the Father should govern all our activities. There is a saying—you are as close to God as you want to be. God says in James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Based on this promise, I challenge each of us to draw near to God, desire to gaze upon His glory, and seek His presence.

Knowing God on a deeper level often begins by asking.  

Moses was called and equipped by God to lead His chosen people to the promised land. When God led Moses up the mountain to give him instructions and kept him there for forty days, the people grew impatient. Not knowing what had become of their leader, they asked Aaron to make them a new god. God was furious at their rebellion and threatened to kill them. He would raise up a new generation through Moses. But Moses interceded for the people, and God relented from killing them.

God instructed Moses to lead the people forward but informed him He would not go with them. Moses could not conceive of leading on without God’s presence. He said to God, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). Moses was more concerned about God being present with him than continuing the journey. God relented and agreed to continue with them. Perhaps this emboldened Moses and caused him to ask bravely for more. He said, “Please, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18).

Wow! Can you imagine asking such of God? Moses had heard God speak at the burning bush, seen God’s mighty wonders in the ten plagues, and walked across the dry riverbed of the Red Sea, yet he wanted more. He didn’t want to just see God’s wonders; he wanted to see God. So, he asked, “Show me Your glory.”

We might expect God to respond, “Haven’t you seen enough? Didn’t you experience all the miracles? Wasn’t it your hands used to perform them?” But God did not. He answered just as Moses had asked. “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you” (Exodus 33:19).

He hid Moses in a cleft of the rock and passed by, allowing Moses to see His back. God revealed His character proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7).

God granted Moses a deeper gaze into His goodness because he asked. God desires each of His children to know and love Him. That was His purpose in sending Jesus. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

May we dare to be like Moses and ask, “Lord, show me Your glory.”

How have you seen God in the past?

What elements of His character has He revealed to you?

Will you commit to ask God to reveal His glory to you, your family, your church, and our nation?

*All Scriptures are quoted from NKJV