Exodus

Exodus 33: God grants His merciful presence

Begin in prayer

Before Moses asks for God’s presence and glory, let us bring our need for mercy before Him. Ask the Lord to teach us that His presence is a gift and to make Himself known to us in Christ.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.

Psalm 123:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to seek You above the gifts You give. Show us Jesus, who makes You known and brings sinners near by grace. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God tells Moses to lead Israel toward the promised land with an angel, warning that His presence among them would consume them. The people mourn and take off their jewelry. At a tent outside the camp, Moses speaks with the LORD as the cloud descends, while the people worship at their tent doors. Moses pleads for God’s presence and receives the promise that God will go with him and give him rest. He then asks to see God’s glory. God promises to proclaim His name and sovereign mercy, shielding Moses in a cleft of rock because no man may see His face and live.

As you read Exodus 33, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God grants His presence and shows mercy according to His own will.

After the calf, possession of the land without God’s presence would leave the heart of the rescue missing. God warns that His holy presence among this stubborn people would consume them. They mourn, remove their jewelry and watch Moses go to a meeting tent outside the camp. This is before the commanded tabernacle has been built. God speaks to Moses as a man speaks with his friend, showing direct communication rather than a view of God’s face. Moses asks for God’s way and refuses to move without His presence, because that is what distinguishes His people. God grants the request in favor toward Moses, then answers the request to see His glory with a proclamation of sovereign mercy. No human can see His face and live, so God shields Moses and permits only the sight He chooses. His gracious presence is given on His terms, and Christ makes the unseen God known to His people.

How does Exodus 33 show us that God grants His presence and shows mercy according to His own will?

God’s holy presence is a serious matter for stubborn sinners.

He warns that going among Israel could consume them on the way. The people’s mourning answers that grave news. Sinners need the mediation Christ provides before fellowship with this holy God.

God’s presence is the gift Moses seeks above the journey’s success.

Moses asks to know God’s way and refuses to move without Him. God’s going with them will mark the people as His. The promise of rest is His gracious answer, rather than a reward for their worth.

God’s mercy belongs to His sovereign will.

He will proclaim His name and be gracious to whom He chooses. Moses cannot demand an unveiled sight of His face. God gives the sight He permits and shelters Moses, teaching dependence on the mercy fulfilled in Christ.

Memorise

I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Exodus 33:19

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what gift am I seeking while refusing the mercy of Jesus?

Moses pleads, “If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here.” The land without God is no sufficient hope. Yet the LORD’s warning shows how dangerous His presence is for unrepentant sinners.

Jesus makes the unseen God known and brings His people near. Our guilt would exclude us, but He carried their sin and judgment at the cross. He rose with the task of reconciliation finished. His sacrifice is enough to give peace with God, and His mercy is given freely to the undeserving.

Come seeking the Savior Himself. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Those who believe receive forgiveness and the fellowship His blood secured. No gift can replace knowing Him. The Lord who grants His presence will be the lasting joy of His redeemed people.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God’s presence is a gracious gift, and that Jesus died and rose to bring His people near. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for freely granting His presence and revealing His sovereign mercy, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 17:26

Father, thank You for hearing Moses and giving Your presence by mercy. Forgive our desire for gifts while neglecting You. Please turn our hearts to trust Jesus. Teach us to seek Your fellowship, depend on Your grace and value knowing You above every earthly success. Amen.