Jump Start # 3832
Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.”
Our verse today is found in a series of rapid fire, back and forth, conversations between Moses and the Lord. Moses prays and God immediately answers him. This goes on for several verses. In our verse today, Moses wants to know the way of the Lord so that he will know the Lord. Moses knew the way of the Egyptians. He lived as royalty, in the immediate family of Pharaoh. Moses rejected that culture and way of life. Moses knew the way of Israel. He was one of them. He was leading them to a land that God had promised.
But, what Moses wanted to know, was the way of the Lord. He wanted to know the Lord.
Now, several things spin off of that idea:
First, the only way one truly knows the Lord is through the Scriptures. This is how God has revealed Himself. This is God introducing Himself to us. This is what God wants us to know. Many a person claims to know what God likes, yet they haven’t a clue what the Bible says. Often, they assume whatever they like, God likes. But, that isn’t the case most times.
Second, some people are really hard to get to know. They are very protective of their private lives and keep you at arms length. One has to respect their wishes. We often ask far too many questions, expecting each person to give us the details and the facts that we want to know. Prying too much, sends some people away. Be careful of that.
Third, it is important to let a person tell you about themselves. Broad generalities, guessing and assuming often isn’t even close to how someone feels. In many ways, this is what the dating process is about. It is about a young man and a young lady getting to know each other. If they like what they learn, then the relationship deeps and heads to a marriage. If they don’t like what they see, then it’s best to end the relationship.
We know the Lord knows us. The Lord knows our thoughts. The Lord knows our motives. We might fool others, but there is no fooling God. He knows. We can hide behind excuses, build a façade that makes us look wonderful, tell others what they want to hear, but those are all hiding the true self from others. God knows.
Some feel that if others really knew them, then no one would like them. So they continue to wear artificial masks, hide behind smiles, pretend all is fine, living in fear that no one would really like them if they knew the truth about them. But, such thoughts forget that we all have a past that is not pretty. We all have needed the saving blood of Jesus to redeem us. We all need to fellowship to keep us going. We all are a work in progress and are on this journey called ’life’ together. Truth is, once a person really knows you, you’d be surprised how many others have similar stories to yours. You are not so different and unique. This is especially true of the Lord towards us. He loves you, even though He knows you. He loves you, even though there have been times when we haven’t given Him much thought. He loves us as much as He possibly can.
Sometimes brethren can be pretty harsh and judgmental on others. We can do a good job of hurting each other’s feelings by the little comments we say about each other. Just said loud enough so someone else could hear, those cruel statements can do a lot of damage. Just said harsh enough to drive a needle into their heart. And, because of a few, some feel that everyone is like that. They are not. Because of a few, some keep their distance and never get close. And, with that, fellowship is merely a word, not a relationship. Like hugging a porcupine, it’s hard to get close to some. Past histories and not wanting to be hurt again, keeps some this way.
You can build bridges by being open about yourself. Be kind. People do not like to be questioned over and over as if they are sitting in the police station. Smile. Invite. Give space. Take time.
In your prayers, have you allowed the Lord to know you, even though He already does? Have you been honest with Him? Have you confessed as you ought to?
Let me know Your ways…
Roger