Goodness

 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you have been saying to me, ‘Bring this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. But you said, ‘I know you by name, and also you have found favor in my sight.’ Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see that this nation is your people.” And the LORD said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

And Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here. For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?” The LORD said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have requested, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

And Moses said, “Show me your glory.” And the LORD said, “I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will proclaim the LORD by name before you; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” Exodus 33:12-19

My friend, Brenda, commented that God could have shown Moses millions of galaxies, great mysteries, or even the future, but God chose to show Moses his goodness. God chose character and relationship over the spectacular things of his creation or knowledge. Relationship is what God is after. It’s not about what has passed or what’s to come; it’s about the here and now!

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15