Today’s reading: Exod 33:1–34:35, John 6:1–14, Song 4:9–13
Today’s theme: Intimacy with God
One of the key themes in the bible is God’s relational nature and His desire to abide in relationship with His people. We should seek to pursue an intimate, face-to-face relationship with God. This relationship is not so personal that it is detached from the teaching of scripture or from the community of the church, in fact, without God’s word, fellowship and service in the body of Christ, our “personal” relationship with God is suspicious.
Rather than use the term ‘personal’ which is open to abuse by those who want God on their own personal terms, we should use the word ‘intimate’. We should have an intimate relationship with God in accordance with His word.
Exodus 33:1–34:35
Face to face with God
Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. Exodus 33:11 (ESV)
God calls us all to enjoy His presence in close fellowship and relationship with Him, as He spoke to Moses face to face. We should have a heart to stay in God’s presence, like young Joshua.
God responds to true relationship
And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17 (ESV)
Again the Lord responds to Moses’ intercession, not because of the greatness of his prayer, but because Moses had a relationship with God. We should desire God’s presence to be with us also.
Desire to know God
Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” Exodus 33:18 (ESV)
Moses wanted to know God more and so should we.
Undeserved grace
And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Exodus 33:19 (ESV)
Thank God today that He has chosen to be gracious and merciful to you, He is not obligated to be gracious to any of us, so we should be grateful.
Who is the Lord?
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV)
This tells us so much about who God is and how He operates.
Spiritual adultery
and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods. Exodus 34:16 (ESV)
Idolatry is spiritual adultery.
Pray that the veil is removed
Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, Exodus 34:34 (ESV)
2 Cor 3:7-18 gives some great commentary on this. We should pray for the Jews, that the veil is removed and that they would see Jesus as Messiah.
John 6:1–14
Put your trust in God
Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” John 6:7 (ESV)
It is easy to fall into this type of faithless pragmatism, thinking only in physical terms about a problem. We should boldly and radically put our faith in God.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014
Additional resources
Desiring God on John 6