The Lord God is the Lord Jesus
The Way of the LORD God
Moses yearned for a closer relationship with the Lord God. Consider, Moses is one of few persons who communicated with the Lord God, “face-to-face” as a man speaks to his friend. However, that was not sufficient for Moses he wanted to know the qualities and the character of his God. He wanted to know the Lord God a little better, Exodus 33:12 – 33 and 34:1-9.
Consequently, Moses made an unusual request of the Lord God. He asked the Lord to reveal Himself to him. Moses asked the Lord to show him the Lord’s way that he may know the Lord, Exodus 33:13.
Moses Petitions the Lord God
Moses said to the Lord, you said you know me “by name.” Lord, you also said, I have also found “grace” in your eyes. Lord, if all this is true: that you know me by name and I have found grace in your “sight”, then show me “your way” that I may know you, Exodus 33:13.
The Lord’s Response
The Lord God told Moses He will do “this thing” that he has requested. He also confirmed the two conditions Moses listed above are true and He will reveal His way, Exodus 33:17. However, Moses defined more precisely, what he meant by “thy way” or the way of the Lord. He achieved this via another statement of request for he said Lord, “beseech thee, shew me thy glory,” Exodus 33:18.
Now we know that the way of the Lord is intimately connected to the glory of the Lord.
The Lord God Explained the Way of the Lord
The Lord expounded to Moses what constituted His way. The Lord promised Moses to reveal the following concerning His way:
- “I will make all my goodness pass before you”.
- “I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you”.
- “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious”.
- “I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy,” Exodus 33:19.
However, the Lord made an exception. Moses could not see His face or glory, Exodus 33:20. The Lord explained nobody could see His face and live to tell about it. However, He made provision for Moses to “see” the remainder of Himself, Exodus 33:21 -23.
The Revelation of the Way of the Lord God
The next morning, the Lord honored His Word, Exodus 34:2. The Lord “descended” in a cloud, stood before Moses and explained “the name of the Lord,” Exodus 34:5 – 7. The following list is the things the Lord “proclaimed” concerning “the name of the Lord”:
- “Proclaimed The LORD, THE LORD GOD”
- The Lord is “merciful”
- The Lord is “gracious”
- The Lord is “longsuffering”
- The Lord is “abundant in goodness and truth”
- The Lord keeps “mercy for thousands”
- The Lord forgives “iniquity, transgression and sin”
- The Lord does not acquit “the guilty” and
- The Lord visits “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children” and on the grand children to the third and fourth generation.
The Lord God Proclaimed Himself When He Proclaimed His Name
Moses “worshipped” the Lord God after the Lord expounded His way to him, Exodus 34:8.
The Lord God promised to reveal His way to Moses consisting of His goodness, His name, His grace and His mercy. However, he never promised Moses would see His face. However, when the actual revelation happened, the Lord proclaimed only His name. The Lord God proclaimed Himself when He proclaimed His name.
The Scripture says, “THE Lord passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, The LORD, THE LORD GOD.” Then the Lord listed a set of characteristics, which described Him.
The way of the Lord consists of the name of the Lord and the glory of the Lord. The glory of the Lord is reserved, sinful man cannot see the glory of the Lord and live. There is no distinction between the name of The LORD or the name of the LORD GOD and the LORD. The name of the Lord reflects the qualities of the LORD GOD. The name of the LORD is a summary of the character of the LORD GOD expressed by His many qualities.
In closing, to know the Lord’s way we have to satisfy the same criteria Moses met. The Lord knew Moses “by name”. Then the Lord revealed Himself to Moses by His name, the name of the Lord. Now, Moses knows the Lord “by name.”
Moses found “grace” in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord revealed to Moses that much “grace” is in His name. Now, Moses knows the Lord by name for he found the grace that’s in the Lord’s name.
Does the Lord know you by name? Have you found grace in the eyes of the Lord? Have you found the “grace” inherent in the name of the LORD GOD? Eventually, Moses knew the Lord God by His name.
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