Monday: That I May Know You
Daily Lesson for Monday 15th of September 2025
Read Exodus 33:12-17. What did Moses ask the Lord to teach him? Why did he demand God’s presence to guide them?
Moses’ growth in the Lord was steady. He drew closer and closer to the Lord and sought to model himself after God’s image. One day when he was conversing with God in the tent of meeting,
Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com
Moses suddenly realized that he did not know Him, and he uttered a specific prayer: “ ‘Show me now Your way, that I may know You’ ” (Exodus 33:13, NKJV). Moses was aware of his deep need to understand God on a new level. He discovered that the more he knew the Lord, the more he did not know Him. He recognized his need and wholeheartedly desired to know Him better. God willingly granted Moses’ wish.
By looking at the experiences of Moses so far, we can observe how Moses was drawn into a deeper, intimate relationship with the Lord and how he grew spiritually.
First, Moses climbed the mountain and “went up to God” (Exodus 19:3, NKJV). Then he went “to the top of the mountain” (Exodus 19:20, NKJV) and afterward approached the cloud, “the thick darkness” in which God resided (Exodus 20:21, NKJV).
On another occasion, “Moses entered the cloud” where God was, and he stayed with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18, NIV). During these 40 days, God gave Moses two precious gifts: (1) the gift of the Decalogue written by God Himself on the two tablets, also chiseled by Him (Exodus 24:12), and (2) the instructions on how to build and furnish the tabernacle (see Exodus 25:1-40; Exodus 26:1-37; Exodus 27:1-21; Exodus 28:1-43; Exodus 29:1-46; Exodus 30:1-38; Exodus 31:1-18).
Then he spent another 40 days and nights with the Lord, interceding for sinners (Exodus 32:30-32, Deuteronomy 9:18).
Yet, even after all this, Moses desired to know God’s character more concretely, and God soon gave him special insights to understand who He is. This knowledge Moses desired was not a mere intellectual understanding of God but an experiential knowledge of His person.
No wonder centuries later Jesus would say: “ ‘And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent’ ” (John 17:3, NKJV). What better way for God to make Himself known to humans than by becoming a human Himself?
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Do you know God, or do you just know about Him? What is the crucial difference between the two? |
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As most readers know, I have a PhD in computer science. At the time I was studying my household was very noisy. My wife is a fast and frequent talker, and my daughter is something else again. She can even talk when she is breathing in. Both women have developed duplex communication skills; they can listen and talk at the same time. I love them and would not have it any other way, but in the days when I was studying, getting the time to think deep connected thoughts was a serious problem. I would wake up an 2am, when the women were sound asleep and go into my study and think problems through and solve them. No interruptions; just pen and paper, a couple of computers and my thoughts, I could get my ideas together and test my theories; and it worked.
Moses was in the process of transforming the Hebrews into a theocratic nation. They were not serried ranks of compliant pilgrims. They were a rabble, they fought and bit and scratched and whinged at Moses every day and often far into the night. Moses was writing his PhD, the Torah, and he was in consultation with the expert, God. He needed peace and quiet and time to listen and think.
We may not be writing the book to change a nation, but we are in the business of changing our own lives and changing the lives of others around us. Spending a bit of “alone time” with God is not just a good idea; it is essential.
Jesus said:
And just a little corollary to that thought. This is not an invitation to monasticism or mindless meditation. Moses' mind was not in neutral; it was an interaction with God. And the time came when he had to leave “The Tent of Meeting” and go back into the noisy camp of the Hebrews and apply what he learned.
Oops, Carmel is awake, the day has begun!
To know God we must fall on the Rock and be broken. Our precious egos must be poured out and we are to be emptied of self. Only then can Christ come and rest in us. Acts 7:47-51
On several occasions Moses had close encounters with God. Moses had seen the power of God through the burning bush, miracles in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the encounter at Mount Sanai. However, “one day” Moses realised that he wanted to know God better (Exodus 33:12-17). I am truly intrigued how Moses talked to God like one can talk to a friend whom you went with to nursery school, primary and secondary together. “One day”, you realised that you do not know your friend enough. What was Moses deeply seeking to understand about God? What was Moses pleading for? Are there any lessons that we can learn from this episode?
“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you...” (Exod.33:13, NIV).
Moses was not pleading for more miracles or power, but to have a more personal and passionate relationship with God. He was longing for a more productive and fulfilling connection with God. He desired to grow more and more in God’s ways (character and nature). He desired to have more understanding about the heart of God (love, holiness, mercy, compassion, and justice). Moses had seen enough of God’s revelation but now Moses was yearning for a closer walk with God. Moses had realised that the only way he could continue to enjoy God’s favour was to grow in His ways. Moses yearning more of God teaches us a few valuable lessons:
1. We should crave for more of God’s nature than about Him. Relationship is more fulfilling than information.
2. In our spiritual growth, we should be bolder to request God to grant us a more intimate and passionate relationship with Him.
3. “One day” let us extend our relationship boundary with God beyond His miraculous revelations. Let us dare become like Him.
4. Without the presence of God, our victories amount not much. God must go with us.
In essence, our spiritual growth is not dependent on God’s revelations but on having a more productive and fulfilling relationship with Him. Like Moses, we can walk with God for many years and still realise: “I want to know You more.”
There is some solemn peace of mind in reading this portion of Scripture and learning that even Moses—the man who walked and served God each day of his life's journey of purpose—needed to know God still. It's 3:00am in the night. My heart is less troubled knowing this, as the debate in my heart asking, "Why am I knowing this now?" is being answered. So many events have happened in my life by now, but so much more had happened in the life of Moses at this point in Scripture; still, Moses wanted to know God. Knowing God as it's looking like is usually not an event but a process, and its a beautiful feeling to know that.
Proverbs 9:10 states that,
This study opens up a truly wonderful school of thought that I can break down as follows:
1. Leave the world and go to God for learning: Moses left the camp for alone time with God. We too need to have that private time, somewhere alone, even just in our minds, to learn from God.
2. Purpose to know God from the heart: Inside the tabernacle of meeting, as the people in the camp would witness the pillar of cloud descending to the door of the tabernacle, the Lord would talk with Moses (Exodus 33:9). Moses had a longing and a purpose to know God, saying, (Exodus 33:12-13).
3. Learn from God directly: God says, (Exodus 33:14). Learning directly from God gives you rest and assurance that God is journeying with you. For us today, His Word is our place of meeting, and with prayer, we journey with God to know Him. It's interesting to see this in Deuteronomy 17:18-20.
4. Ask God to know Him, not only for yourself but to benefit others too: Now, this is special! In the midst of God and Moses' interaction, Moses pleads for God's presence to be with not only him but also with the children of Israel (Exodus 33:16). Knowing God is purposed for God's mission; Moses clearly understood this.
This is truly special!
Moses’ prayer, “Show me Your ways, that I may know You” (Exodus 33:13), was not simply a request for direction but a longing for intimacy with God. He desired more than guidance for the journey,he wanted to know God’s heart, His character, and His purposes. This reveals that true prayer is not only about asking God to solve problems but about seeking a deeper relationship with Him.
In this prayer, Moses models what it means to walk by faith. He understood that to lead God’s people, he first needed to be led by God Himself. The more he experienced of God’s presence, the more he longed for Him. His request challenges us today: to seek not just God’s blessings, but God Himself, allowing His Spirit to shape us and make us more like Christ.
The lesson reminds us that there is no better way for God to reveal Himself than by becoming one of us.
In Christ, God bridged the gap between heaven and earth. He shared our struggles and revealed His character through His words, actions, and compassion. To know Jesus is to know God.
Today, we grow in this knowledge by reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word. As we behold Him in Scripture, we are not only learning about Him—we are being transformed, with His Spirit shaping our hearts and lives to reflect His character.
From personal experience, I have seen how my attitudes, beliefs, and actions toward others have changed by beholding God in His Word. It is a wonderful transformation that will continue into eternity.
Christianity is all about living our faith, though living this special life is entirely based on a strong, faith-based, relationship with our God and our Lord Christ Jesus.
How did Moses come to the point to inquire of the LORD: “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yes You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’” Moses became aware that he was 'lost' without God's support.
Moses realized his limitations and challenged God to refrain from taking His people any further unless His 'Presence' goes with them - and God promises to do so by His Holy Spirit: So the LORD said to Moses: “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found Grace in my sight, and I know you by name.
God’s Spirit leads, man follows. He promised Moses: ”My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” As we learn to delight ourselves in God's Presence by His Mercy and Grace, He undergirds our living faith on the journey toward the ‘Promised Land’ – Psalm 37:4; Phil. 2:13; Isaiah 30:15.
The more we know God, the more we experience what real love and joy are.
Beyond the emptiness of nihilism, hedonism, or narcissism, there is a hollow spot in ourselves wanting more meaning in life, more purpose, peace, and satisfaction. I believe this is the universal cry of the heart. So many broken people are living quiet lives of desparation wondering if this is all there is, and does life ever get better than this moment of pain, of brokenness, of heartache, and heartbreak.
I know this all too well for there was a time in my life when that was a perfect description of me. A time when I had planned out my exit strategy from my painful existence. Before I could carry out my plan, I cried out to God, "God, what is wrong with me?!" He heard and answered my cry, not with lightning and thunder but with a still small voice that to me was more dramatic than lightning bolts or thunderclaps. "You have left me out of your life, that's why you feel the way that you do." came the thought, like a flash of lightning and a bolt of thunder. That was it! That was why my life seemed so empty. That was my "Damascus road" experience that set this prodigal son on the road back to my Father's house.
That was over 40 years ago and sometimes it feels like yesterday and forever ago at the same time. Through all the years I have had this longing desire to know God more. Yet the busyness of life often crowds out the time that I need to spend with my LORD.
What if I/we wanted to know Him the way that He knows me/us? In those moments it is like a little slice of heaven. Lord, not only do I want to know you more, I need to know you more. It's the only thing that subdues my restlessness and heals my brokenness.
I heard this song many years ago and it has been my anthem, and my prayer. I hope that it will bless you as much as it still blesses me.
"Oh Lord, I Want to Know You More" by Steve Green
Thank you Tim for sharing.
I have heard similar stories of brokenness from other brethren over the years. Only then can Christ heal you and fill you with His Spirit.
May God continue to bless you daily.
I once asked an evangelist when he was born again or saved; he immediately responded. "This morning!"