Meaning of Exodus 33:18

In Exodus 33:18, Moses' plea, "Now show me your glory," is a profound request born out of an intense and intimate relationship with God, following a period of deep disappointment and divine judgment. The Israelites had just committed the grievous sin of idolatry by constructing and worshipping the golden calf, leading God to declare His intention to withdraw His presence from them. Moses, acting as mediator, had interceded powerfully, and God had relented from outright destruction, but He stated that His full presence would not accompany them as it had before, to prevent them from being consumed by His holiness due to their continued sinfulness. This verse, therefore, represents Moses' yearning to experience God's presence and character more fully, not merely to see a physical manifestation, but to understand the very essence of God's being, His goodness, power, and majesty, especially in light of His grace in sparing the people.

Context and Background

The immediate preceding verses (Exodus 32-33:17) are crucial for understanding Moses' request. After the golden calf incident, God's anger burned against Israel. Moses, demonstrating remarkable courage and intercessory skill, pleaded with God, appealing to His reputation among the nations and His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God agreed to spare the people but declared He would not go with them directly, stating, "I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people" (Exodus 33:3). This caused great mourning among the Israelites, who removed their adornments. Moses then took the Tent of Meeting outside the camp, a place where he would commune with God face-to-face, "as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11). It is in this context of God's qualified presence and Moses' unique access that he makes his bold petition.

Key Themes and Messages

The central themes are divine revelation, intimacy with God, God's glory, and Moses' intercessory role. Moses desires to see more than just God's power; he seeks to comprehend God's glory, which in Hebrew thought encompasses His presence, radiance, majesty, and moral character. This request highlights Moses' deep spiritual hunger and his understanding that God's glory is not merely an external display but an intrinsic attribute. It also underscores the theme of grace amidst judgment, as God, while tempering His direct presence, is still willing to engage with Moses.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse speaks to the human desire for a deeper understanding of God. It encourages believers to seek not just superficial knowledge of God but a profound apprehension of His character and presence. Moses' boldness in asking for such a revelation, even when God's full presence was being withheld from the nation, illustrates the potential for extraordinary intimacy that God offers to those who earnestly seek Him. It teaches us that our relationship with God can and should move beyond mere acquaintance to a deeper, more profound communion, where we are continually desiring to know Him more fully.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Moses' request foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's glory in Jesus Christ. Jesus is described as "the radiance of the glory of God" (Hebrews 1:3) and the one in whom "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Colossians 1:19). The New Testament teaches that through Christ, believers can now behold God's glory with unveiled faces (2 Corinthians 3:18). Moses' encounter also sets a precedent for prophetic encounters with God, where divine knowledge and experience are granted to chosen individuals. Furthermore, it underscores the ongoing tension in Scripture between God's holiness and His desire for relationship with His people.

Analogies

One analogy for Moses' request is a student asking their teacher not just for the answers to problems, but to understand the underlying principles and the teacher's own passion for the subject. Another might be a spouse asking their partner to share not just their daily life, but the deepest aspects of their heart and being. Moses is not asking for a mere spectacle; he is seeking to grasp the essence of the divine being with whom he has such a unique relationship.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse resonates with numerous other passages:

• Psalm 27:4: "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple." This echoes Moses' desire for sustained communion and apprehension of God's presence.
• John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." This points to the Incarnation as the ultimate fulfillment of the desire to see God's glory.
• Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." This suggests that a pure heart is a prerequisite for experiencing God's glory.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This verse explicitly links the knowledge of God's glory to Christ.

Ultimately, Moses' request, though not granted in the way he might have initially imagined a direct visual spectacle, leads to God revealing His character and name more fully to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7, demonstrating His mercy, faithfulness, and justice.