Show Me Your Glory

 

“Show Me Your Glory”
Exodus 33:18–23

In Exodus 33, Moses does something bold—he asks God, “Show me Your glory.” After leading Israel through the wilderness, after hearing God’s voice and receiving His law, Moses still longed for something deeper: to truly know God’s heart and character. It was not a request for power, position, or privilege—it was a cry for intimacy with God.

God’s Answer to Moses
God responded in a remarkable way. He said:
“I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence… But,” He added, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Ex. 33:19–20).

Instead of displaying raw, overwhelming power, God revealed His goodness, His mercy, and His compassion. He placed Moses in the cleft of the rock, covering him with His hand, allowing Moses to see only the afterglow of His glory. God’s glory, then, was not fire and thunder—it was His character of love and grace.

Glory and the Witness to the World
This connects to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 4:9, where he describes believers as being made a “spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.” God’s glory is revealed not only in grand displays but in how His people reflect His character before the watching world. Just as Moses was changed after seeing God’s goodness, so too are we called to reveal God’s character through our lives.

Paul also reminds us in Romans 2:4 that it is not fear, threat, or judgment that leads people to repentance, but the kindness of God. That kindness is what Moses saw. That kindness is what transforms hearts. God’s glory is revealed most clearly in His compassion, patience, and mercy.

The Cross: The Fullest Revelation of God’s Glory
Yet the ultimate answer to Moses’ request comes not at Sinai, but at Calvary. On the Cross, God’s glory was fully unveiled—not in dazzling light, but in self-sacrificing love. There we see justice and mercy meet, wrath against sin and compassion for sinners embrace.

At the Cross, God’s character is revealed with absolute clarity:

• His justice—sin must be dealt with.

• His mercy—He bore our punishment Himself.

• His love—“while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

When we fix our eyes on the Cross, we see what Moses longed to glimpse: the heart of God. The Cross shows us His glory, His goodness, His love.

See God's Glory
Moses cried, “Show me Your glory.” God answered by showing His goodness. Paul explained that God’s kindness leads us to repentance. And in the fullness of time, God’s answer to that ancient prayer was nailed to a Roman cross.

So if you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus on the Cross. There, more than anywhere else, the glory of God shines.

More on: Lesson 12 - "Please, Show Me Your Glory" Sabbath School

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