33:12
We now get insight into one of Moses’ meetings with the Lord, and Moses complains to the Lord. Moses has been told to lead the people, but God has not told him whom He will send with him. It seems that Moses recognised that the task was too much for him on his own. God had also told Moses that He knows him by name, and that he has found favour with God. We should have an attitude of reverence and a proper fear of God, we should have an awareness of our sinfulness, but we should also know that God knows us by name. He knows who we are, and we have found favour in His sight. We need a proper balance.
33:13
Moses now continues his plea to the Lord. Pay special attention to what Moses asks for. First he wants God to teach him His ways. We find a similar thing in a number of the Psalms, with David asking God to teach him His ways. Moses’ requests are geared towards knowing God. Often all a person wants is the immediate material benefit: being healed, a financial crisis averted etc. There is a fundamental difference between those who want God only for what He can give them, and those who want God Himself. Moreover, when we are in a fix, or just a generally difficult situation, the thing we need most is to know the Lord’s ways. Our natural response to situations can so often be part of the problem, we need to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Moses also reminds God that this people, sinful though they are, are His people. Moses’ prayer is utterly God focused.
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