Tuesday: “Please, Show Me Your Glory”
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 16th of September 2025
After the golden calf apostasy, Moses interceded for God’s people and wanted to be assured that the Lord would continue leading them to the Promised Land. Deep down within his being, he also wanted to know the Lord better.
Read Exodus 33:18-23. How did God answer Moses’ request to see His glory?
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“Please, show me your glory,” Moses asked the Lord. In His mercy, the Lord did reveal His glory to him. However, when answering Moses’ request, God promised to show him His “goodness.” One can safely conclude that God’s glory is His goodness, that is, His character (see also Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 576; Christ’s Object Lessons, Pages 414, 415; Prophets and Kings, p. 313).
“It is the glory of God to give His virtue to His children. He desires to see men and women reaching the highest standard.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 530. His glory is to embrace repentant sinners (see Prophets and Kings, p. 668) and supply everything needed to change them. At the same time, it is our “glory” to reveal His character in our own lives and to make it known to others.
This reflection of God’s character, His goodness, kindness, and tender love, must be seen in our actions. This way, we have a chance to be not only a blessing to the world but a shining light to the onlooking universe. As Paul states: “For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings” (1 Corinthians 4:9, NIV). This cosmic dimension gives to our lives and service a meaning and purpose that we can barely begin to imagine.
In Romans 2:4, Paul says that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance” (NKJV). That is, it is God’s goodness and character pointed out by the Holy Spirit that convinces people of their sinfulness and need of salvation. Indeed, when we look at the cross and know who was there (the Lord Himself) and why He was there—because He loved us and this was the only way to save us—we have the greatest revelation possible of His goodness and character.
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How much time do you spend focusing on the Cross and what it tells you about the character of God? |
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We often talk about God in terms of power and glory and we think about these attributes in human terms. If we want to make a big impression we use loudness. Not satisfied with shouting, we employ amplification and resonators. If we want to add to the effect,s we add lighting effects like lasers and hordes of computer-controlled LED-carrying drones. If we get serious and aggressive about power we use tanks, battleships, rockets, and even nukes. And we like to add that God is more powerful than that.
It is quite frightening, really. It raises a picture of a God you could capriciously fry you into oblivion.
But, this is God talking:
God wants to be revealed by his goodness. That is his idea of power and glory. And to those of us who call ourselves "Christian" it is a salient reminder that if we are to show God to others effectively, the only weapon we really have is his goodness. How effective would we be if we prefaced our decisions and actions with the question, "What is the good thing to do?"
We like to surround the idea of "God's Goodness" with acceptable Christian phraseology. We are good at that. So I will challenge you with a bit of Aussie-talk: "Get off your butt and do something good today that makes a difference to someone else!". Pray that you will be instumental in revealing God's glory.
“Please, show me Your glory.”(Exod.33:18).
The more Moses grew spiritually the bolder he became to make “strange” requests! Moses knew that no one could see God and live. “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” His request to see the glory of God was strange indeed. Moses dared to make bold request because he had a close walk with God. If we are spiritually in tune with God, we have no fear, we can ask our Father who is in heaven bold requests. Simply Moses wanted to see God, not just His marvellous works. Unfortunately, in this life we cannot see God as He is because we are sinners. However, we shall see Him as He is when Jesus comes back to reclaim us to Himself. He shall be our God, and we shall be His people.
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is(1 John 3:2, NIV)
When interpreting any writings, especially ancient scripture, it's essential to seek connecting texts or parallels and understand the direct meanings from the writings without injecting current thought processes, which may dilute the intent and purpose of the texts.
An immediate look into the conversation between God and Moses may suggest that Moses' curiosity was in play, or that he was trying to know more than was necessary from God, through his request, "Please, show me Your glory" (Exodus 33:18). The response from God (Exodus 33:20) may worsen our perception, portraying Moses as either "too daring," "getting overconfident, even selfish," or "arrogant." This portrayal couldn't be further from the true happenings in this text.
However, a deeper dive into the same conversation relating to other parts of scripture - earlier or after - allows for a better understanding to what is going on this portion of scripture.
The complexity arises from Exodus 33:20, prompting us to ask ourselves: Did Moses really want God to show him His physical self, His face and body, when he stated, "Please show me Your glory"? This may not be the case. To gain another perspective, let's relate it to previous mentions: Considering the recent incident of the Golden calf worship, which severed God's relationship with Israel, Moses' statement might be more about rebuilding and restoration.
If "saw God" signifies feeling God's presence and "face-to-face" implies intimate conversation, Moses' request could be a plea for renewed connection and understanding.
It's looking more like Moses was arbitrating between God and His people. His reference to "Your people" (Exodus 33:13, 16) while God offered His presence to be with Moses alone says it all. The scene at the beginning of Exodus 33, where Moses leaves the camp, portrays a picture of a dejected Israel in desperation, watching as Moses would leave for the tent of meeting to be with God. Moses' concern was truly pegged on this: he was praying for God to return to His people and pardon them. He understood that God pained after the betrayal and rebellion, and he was pleading for repair of relations before leaving for Canaan, appealing to God's goodness and mercy. Thus, "Please, show me Your glory!" was a plea to God to reconsider His people as He shared His presence with Moses. Consider Exodus 33:19:
Yes, Moses was arbitrating and trying to rebuild relationships.
The spirit of Moses points to Christ and Calvary – so beautiful.
Charles Spurgeon rightly called Moses’ request the greatest ever made of God: “Please, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18). Unlike prayers for provision, healing, or guidance, Moses longed to see God Himself to know Him as He truly is. This was not a request for something external but for the deepest revelation of God’s nature. It echoes the psalmist’s cry, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God” (Psalm 42:1). Such a prayer is rare, for it places the Giver above every gift.
God’s glory is the radiance of His entire being His power, wisdom, justice, mercy, holiness, and love combined (Exodus 34:6–7). To see His glory is to encounter His very essence, which no man can fully bear (John 1:18). Yet, in Christ, we behold the fulfillment of Moses’ longing, for “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son” (John 1:14). Moses’ prayer teaches us to lift our desires beyond temporary blessings to the eternal joy of knowing God Himself.
Montanya, what a powerful reminder! For sinners like us, to even catch a glimpse of God’s glory is both humbling and exhilarating. When we behold His beauty—whether in Christ’s life, in His Word, or in the quiet ways He reveals Himself—we experience a joy and peace that nothing in this world can offer. It is a transforming encounter, for His glory does not merely impress us; it changes us. Like Moses, we come away reflecting a little more of His character, and that is the greatest privilege any sinner could ever know.
God responded to Moses’ bold request to see His glory (Exodus 33:18-23) by revealing His goodness, mercy, and love, rather than His full, overwhelming presence.
God’s glory is His character; His kindness, mercy, and love. The Cross is the ultimate revelation of this goodness, where Christ’s sacrifice shows the lengths God went to save humanity, offering the clearest picture of His character.
This teaches us that focusing on God’s goodness and the Cross reveals the true nature of His glory, beyond mere power or physical manifestations. Moses’ desire to know God intimately and intercede for His people inspires us to seek a deeper relationship with God and reflect His love in our lives.
When Moses asked God to reveal His glory, the Lord showed him His character of mercy, grace, patience, and truth. God’s glory is not merely dazzling light but the revelation of who He is at the core—love. Eternal life, then, is not just endless existence but the privilege of knowing God and sharing in His life. Our calling is to reflect that glory—to reveal His character to a fallen world that needs redemption and to an unfallen universe that watches the great controversy unfold. Just as Moses’ face shone after being with God, so our lives are to shine with His love, showing that His plan of salvation truly restores and transforms.
I appears that Moses was still not satified, as he desperately tries to reassure himself that this powerful God will remain with him on this journey toward the Promised Land. He wants Him to be ‘real’, to reveal Himself; he wants to see Him as He reveals Himself by His 'Glory'.
It is not enough for Moses to 'know' this God by having experienced His mighty acts, or by the Law he just received from Him. He wants and expects God to reveal Himself in a physcial form that he can observe, see with his eyes; but God does not allow this.
God’s Glory - His Presence - His Goodness - His Name – are stand-ins of that which cannot adequately be described when using the human language, because God's Glory is 'present' in His Spirit and His Truth. But the LORD lets Moses know that ‘he found Grace in His sight, and that He knows him by name.'
I think ‘to be known by Him’ is as close as the believer can come to ‘seeing/experiencing the Glory of God’. We 'see/partake' of His Glory as revealed in Christ Jesus - Himself having received the Glory of God – John 17:24. And how does this Glory - 'being know by Him and knowing Him' - manifest in the life of man? Is it not evidenced in that we are enabled by the Grace of God to love Him and our fellow man – John 17.
We really should meditate on the Cross a lot. For the reflection of the incredible effort of love and how much it cost. Christ will never be the same after it, so that we can regain eternity again.
I am fascinated by the teaching of the lesson and understanding who God is.