God Loves and God Cares - It is a Relationship

Today's Reading
Exodus Chp 33

God is frustrated with the Israelites and He indicates to Moses that He will not be going with Moses leading them to the land of milk and honey:

³ Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way." (Exodus 33:3)

From here we see quite a remarkable interaction where at one point, Moses even tells God to "show me your glory"!

¹² Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

¹⁴ The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

¹⁷ And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

¹⁸ Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

¹⁹ And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ²⁰ But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

Is this not remarkable - that Moses can actually tell God to do something and God does not get mad. What is clear here is that this is not a one way street, it's not a dictatorship. It's a relationship. Moses has proven his faith and love for God and in return, God grants Moses some leeway in their relationship.

This is the relationship I desire with Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord, help me have a deep faith in you, a love for you, time with you - including more prayer and quiet time. I want to demonstrate my faith and love for you so that I can have a relationship with you Jesus, like the relationship God had with Moses.