Exodus 33:17-23 "And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."
The “thing” the LORD told Moses He would do was to go up to the land of promise with him and His people. Still speaking as friend to friend, God told Moses that he had found grace in God’s sight. God told Moses that He knew Moses by name. This was not just a recognition that he was called Moses.
The LORD told Moses that He knew him through and through. The world translated here as name also carries the idea of “position” or “character.” There is nothing about Moses (or us) that is hidden from God. He knows the thought and intent of our heart (Hebrews 4:12).
When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God understood that Moses’ desire was to see Him clearly. God told Moses that he could not look upon the face of God and live, but that He would reveal as much of Himself to Moses as Moses could bear. The LORD declared that He would make all His goodness pass before Moses and He would declare to Moses the name (position, character) of God to him.
The LORD has prepared a special place for those who seek to know Him. As there was for Moses, there is place beside our Heavenly Father that is prepared for all who would seek His face. While we may not look fully upon Him here, there is a Rock on which we stand. It is a sure and firm foundation against the storms of doubt.
There is a cleft in this Rock where we find shelter. The power of God puts us in that cleft, and He covers us there in the hollow of His hand. He removes His hand and allows us to see as much of His glory as we can handle. Have you ever marvelled at the things that God has shown you concerning His love and grace? Have you ever really stopped to consider that this is just a glimpse of His back parts? How truly glorious that day must be when we can look upon His face!