Can You See Him? (Monday Morning Faith)
Have you ever realized that your understanding of someone was completely wrong?
Maybe you thought someone was unfriendly until you got to know them. Maybe you assumed someone was unreliable until they showed up for you when you needed them most. Or maybe someone you admired turned out to be quite different from the person you imagined. The person didn't necessarily change. Your understanding of them did. And when your understanding changed, so did your relationship.
I wonder how often something similar happens with our understanding of God.
Every one of us has a picture of what God is like. Some of that picture comes from Scripture. But some comes from our upbringing, experiences, disappointments, and personal preferences. Some of us imagine God as distant and uninterested. Others picture Him as angry and disappointed, always waiting for us to make another mistake. Still others imagine God as so loving and accepting that He would never confront anything we're doing wrong. But here's the question: What if the God we've imagined isn't quite the God who has revealed Himself?
That's what makes Exodus 33–34 so important. Israel has just committed a terrible act of rebellion. They've made a golden calf and worshiped it in place of the God who rescued them from Egypt. They've created a god according to their own preferences. And now Moses stands before the real God and makes an extraordinary request. “Then show me your glorious presence.” (Exodus 33:18, NLT)
Moses has already seen the burning bush. He's witnessed the plagues. He's walked through the Red Sea. He's seen bread fall from heaven and stood on a mountain shaking beneath his feet. And he still wants more. Not another miracle. Not another blessing. Not another demonstration of power. He wants to know God Himself. And God's response is remarkable. God places Moses in the cleft of a rock, shields him from the fullness of His glory, and allows him a limited glimpse. But then God does something especially significant. He tells Moses what He's like.
In Exodus 34, God describes Himself as compassionate, merciful, slow to anger, filled with unfailing love and faithfulness, forgiving, and just. Notice something important. God doesn't ask Moses what kind of God he would prefer. He doesn't adjust His character to fit Israel's expectations. He reveals who He actually is. There's an interesting detail in the original Hebrew that makes this passage even richer. In Exodus 34:6, the phrase translated “slow to anger” is 'erekh appayim, which literally means “long of nostrils” or “long of nose.” In Hebrew thought, anger was associated with the nose becoming hot or flaring. To describe God as having a “long nose” was a vivid way of saying He is patient and not quick-tempered.
That's especially meaningful considering what Israel has just done. They've rejected Him. They've worshiped an idol. They've broken their covenant. And God describes Himself as patient. Not indifferent toward sin. Not unwilling to confront evil. But patient. God takes sin seriously and loves sinners deeply.
Both are true of Him. And that's why we need to let God correct our picture of Him. Maybe you've spent years believing God is disappointed in you. You know He's holy, but you struggle to believe He's compassionate toward you. Or maybe you've emphasized God's forgiveness while avoiding the uncomfortable truth that He calls us to turn away from sin. Perhaps you've experienced something painful, and you've quietly begun questioning whether God is faithful. Whatever your struggle, don't build your understanding of God around your feelings about God.
Let God tell you who He is.
And notice what happens when Moses sees God more clearly.
He immediately falls to the ground and worships. Then he asks God to travel with His people. Moses doesn't walk away feeling more independent. He walks away recognizing how desperately he needs God. That's what a clearer picture of God produces. Not arrogance. Not self-sufficiency. Dependence. So here's something practical to try this week. Read Exodus 34:5–9 slowly. Pay attention to the words God uses to describe Himself. Then ask yourself: Which part of God's character do I have the hardest time trusting right now? Choose one word. Compassionate. Merciful. Patient. Faithful. Forgiving. Just.
And turn that word into a simple prayer: “God, because You are ________, I will trust You with ________.” Maybe you need to trust His compassion with your hurt. His mercy with your failure. His patience with your weakness. His faithfulness with an uncertain future. Because the more clearly we see God for who He truly is, the more we realize we cannot live without Him. Maybe what we need most today isn't another answer, another sign, or for everything in our lives to become easier.
Maybe we need to see God again.
Prayer
Lord, help me see You as You truly are, not simply as I've imagined You to be. Correct the places where my understanding of You has become distorted. Teach me to trust Your compassion, mercy, patience, faithfulness, and holiness. Forgive me for the times I've tried to live without depending on You. I don't want to go anywhere You aren't leading. Help me know You more, trust You more, and follow You more completely. In Jesus' name, Amen.
