Exodus 33:12-23

“And Moses said unto the Lord . . .” (v. 12). Moses spoke to the Lord from the confines of the tabernacle (see v. 9). The tabernacle of Exodus 33 is not the tabernacle that the Lord instructed Moses to build in Exodus 26. The tabernacle of chapter 33 is a tent that served as a place where Moses could approach God. In verse 7, Moses removed the tabernacle from the camp and placed it far off because the Lord had said that He would consume the children of Israel when He came into their midst. The Lord descended as a cloudy pillar and spoke with Moses in the tabernacle after it was removed from the camp. All scripture from Exodus 33:12 to 34:2 is a record of that which was spoken by Moses and the Lord.

In verse 12, Moses restated that which God revealed to him when the Lord appeared to him from the midst of the burning bush. The Lord had chosen Moses and instructed him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Lord told Moses that He would be with him and that he should tell the children of Israel that “I AM hath sent me unto you.”

In verse 13, Moses asked the Lord to show him His way such that he might know Him and find grace in His sight.

A lot had transpired in the period of time between being called from the burning bush and this moment of prayer in Exodus 33. The Lord had shown Himself to Moses when He caused Israel to come up out of Egypt with great gain. The Lord had shown Himself to Moses when He provided manna from heaven and when He caused water to gush forth from the rock. The Lord had spoken to Moses before he went upon the mount, when he was on the mount and after he came down from the mount. The Lord had given Moses His commandments and the law. The Lord had revealed both His anger and His grace to Moses. The Lord had revealed Himself to Moses in a mighty way but it was not enough for Moses. Moses desired more. Moses wanted to know what he could do such that he might find favor with God. Moses also asked that he might see that this nation is “thy people.”

Moses’ prefaced this request to find grace with the statement that he had found “grace in thy sight.” We need note that all which is recorded in the text before us has been placed there because the Lord would have us know Him.

The Lord’s answer to Moses was: “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” At first blush, the Lord’s answer would seem to sidestep Moses’ request. A closer examination of Moses’ petition, however, reveals that the Lord’s answer is complete and precisely addresses his request. Moses implored the Lord to show him His way. That is what the Lord did. To know God’s way, one must look upon that which the Lord has done, does and shall do. Moses did not find grace in the eyes of the Lord at the burning bush because he had tended the flocks of his father-in-law for forty years. Moses did not find grace because of his works. Moses found grace because he did not turn from the burning bush. Moses did not turn from God’s presence. God’s grace and presence are not separate. New Testament believers know God’s grace because the Comforter indwells all who believe.

Moses understood the Lord’s answer. He understood that the grace he sought depended upon that which the Lord would supply. Moses, in asking for God’s presence (v. 15 and 16), asked that he and Israel not be separated from Him.

The Lord answered: “I will do this thing” (v. 17). The Lord wanted Moses (and us) to understand why that He would continue to be with him. The Lord said: “for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”

New Testament believers make note of the Lord’s answer and hear the words of the Son who said: “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20). We have been given, as Moses was given, a mission and a promise.

Moses responded by begging the Lord to show him “thy glory.” The Lord is the great I AM; He is beyond measurement. His glory surpasses description. Moses beseeched the Lord to show him that which exceeds description.

Moses may or may not have realized that for which he asked. The Lord answered Moses and preserved His answer in scripture before us. The Lord wants New Testament believers to know His response to Moses — to one who found grace in His sight and to one whom He knows by name. New Testament believers have been saved by grace. The Lord knows by name all who have called upon Him believing. That which the Lord revealed to Moses, He reveals to believers.

The Lord would cause His goodness to pass before Moses. The Lord would proclaim I AM, His self-existent name before him. The Lord will be gracious to whom He will be gracious. He will show mercy to whom He will show mercy.

The Lord told Moses (and us) that no man can look upon His face and live. Moses, however, would be in His presence and live because the Lord would place him in a cleft of the rock and cover him with His hand while His glory passed by. Moses would be shielded from His consuming, purifying glory.

New Testament believers are shielded from the all powerful, all consuming glory of the Father by the Son who makes intercession for us.

Moses would see “my back parts” from the cleft when the Lord removed His covering hand (v. 23). New Testament believers see God through the cleft of the rock which is Christ. In the Son, we see the Father and glory in the salvation He has freely given.