And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”  Exodus 33:18.

Moses not only saw the burning bush but also had a burning desire to see God’s glory. This request records for us one of the most intimate encounters between a man and God ever recorded. Moses’ request is not for God to display His power or perhaps even the warmth of His presence, but from deep within he hungered for something more.

The humble man who stuttered wanted something deeper, he wanted an intimate knowledge of God Himself! God who knows all hearts granted Moses his request. God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and manifested His glory, so Moses not only saw the divine afterglow, but was enraptured by His person—His character.

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6,7.

Yes, God handpicked Moses. Moses had received God’s promises: “And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.” Ex.33:2. Moses had seen God’s power (parting the Red Sea) and had been guaranteed God’s presence (Ex.33:14).

Moses wanted God’s Person—the only reality that can bring a lasting sense of wonder and fill the empty spot within all hearts, with lasting satisfaction. Are you lost in His wonder?