Daily Devotional-Exodus 33:14–23-December 29, 2025

Exodus 33:14–23-December 29, 2025

Preacher: Pastor John Chen (陈约翰牧师)
Translated & Annotated by: Yufan

Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you all. We thank God for His grace, as we come to a new day to study our Daily Bread. The Scripture we are studying today is Exodus chapter 33, verses 14 through 23. Let us pray.

Lord God, we thank You. We thank You for having such a conversation with Moses. We thank You for Your mercy toward us in the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, You love us so deeply, and You are willing to go with us—this is such great grace. Lord, allow us to see Your glory. We pray in the name of Christ. Amen.

Now let us look together at this conversation between Moses and God. This dialogue feels somewhat like God is speaking to Moses in riddles. But thanks be to the Lord: in Christ, these riddles have been unveiled. We know what God is saying to Moses, and we know what great mercy we have received through this conversation.

Let us look at the passage verse by verse. Last time, we talked about verse 13, and before that verse 12, where Moses said to God, “You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” These were the words of Moses.

We already explained last time what it means to “know” and what it means for God to “show His way,” and how this is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

In response to Moses’ request, verse 14 records the LORD saying, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” This is God’s answer to Moses’ plea. But notice carefully: in verse 14, “I will give you rest,” the “you” is singular. And in the phrase “go with you,” there is a textual note indicating emphasis. God’s meaning here is: since you have asked Me, since you desire that I show you My ways so that you may find favor in My sight, then I will grant you rest.

However, in verse 15, Moses responds very skillfully: “If your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” Moses changes the singular “you” into the plural “us.” What does this mean? God had said, “I will go with you and give you rest.” Moses replies, “No—it must be You going with us, leading all of us up from here.”

He continues in verse 16: “For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Then in verse 17, the LORD says 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.”

What we see here first is the heart of Moses. Moses loves God’s people deeply. Although these people are stiff-necked and rebellious, although they are truly a troublesome people, Moses skillfully expands the personal grace God grants him to include the entire nation of Israel, so that the people may receive mercy together.

It almost seems as though God says, “All right then. I will do what you ask.” Verse 17 shows God agreeing: “I will do this also, because you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Returning again to verses 15 and 16, Moses’ point is this: how can anyone know that we have found favor in Your sight? Is it not because You go with us? The original Hebrew uses the word “face.” God says, “My face will go with you and give you rest.” Moses also says, “If Your face does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”

This “face” connects directly to verses 21 and 22. When we pray blessings—such as “May the LORD make His face shine upon you”—this means that God turns His face toward us in love.

When God lifts His face toward us and lets His face shine upon us, in the Old Testament this signifies God’s willingness to show grace and mercy. This is essential for us to understand.

The central point is this: only if God shows us grace can we be distinct from the nations. This is Moses’ understanding, and this is a question we must reflect on carefully: What does it mean to be blessed? What does it mean to have true blessing? What distinguishes us from the peoples of the earth?

Moses is very clear: only when God’s face shines upon us, only when God’s presence goes with us, are we truly blessed. If God’s face does not shine upon us, we cannot possibly be blessed.

Brothers and sisters, I believe this is something Christians often reflect on too little. We tend to care deeply about the blessings we receive from God—money, health, gifts, obedient children, smooth careers. These are things we may enjoy, but we must not confuse the gifts in God’s hand with God Himself.

The gifts are meant to point us to God’s goodness, His abundance, His mercy, and the beauty of His face shining upon us. If we separate these blessings from God’s presence, those blessings themselves become curses.

Yesterday, when we spoke about God’s omnipotence, we mentioned that God often grants the second generation of believers many abilities, resources, and wealth. But if these children rely on their own intellect—saying, “I am highly educated, I am wise”—and abandon God, this is utterly incomprehensible. Without God’s face, what blessing can remain?

Therefore, brothers and sisters, I hope you will gain a deep understanding of what it means for God to be with us, to show mercy to us, and to lift His face toward us in this fallen world. The truly beautiful thing is God’s presence. If God is with us, everything else becomes secondary. Having blessings is good; lacking them is also acceptable. But without God’s presence, even living in luxury, driving fine cars, having a good career and reputation—all of these become curses.

This is a profound warning for us. Verse 16 is especially instructive: “Is it not in your going with us that we are distinct?” The distinction of Israel was the shining face of God.

For us today, we must ask: each morning, does God’s face shine upon us? Are we living in His Word? This is the most precious blessing. Difficulties will always exist—health issues, marital struggles, parenting challenges, family burdens. Problems never end; they only change. Peace cannot come from problem-free living.

So where is true peace found? It is found in living under the light of God’s face, walking in His presence. This is our greatest blessing, and this is where true rest is found.

God is the source of life, peace, and blessing. To be with Him is to escape eternal curse. Yet this requires experiencing His mercy.

We now move to the next dialogue. In verse 18, Moses makes another request: “Please show me your glory.” This is an exceedingly spiritual request.

Verses 12 to 17 resolve the issue of God’s blessing upon Israel—His presence going with them into Canaan. Verses 18 to 23 address another issue: Moses’ desire to behold God’s glory.

This is the most fitting desire of a created being—to glimpse the glory of God. As we discussed yesterday in the Larger Catechism, even a glimpse of God’s glory would be the greatest satisfaction a creature could experience.

Moses understands this deeply. He knows that the highest joy is to behold God’s glory. This should also be the prayer of every believer.

Yet we are often shallow in our theology. We desire God’s blessings more than God Himself. Like the Israelites who feared God’s voice and asked Moses to speak for Him, we settle for earthly desires. But true spiritual maturity longs for God’s glory.

The preacher uses illustrations from nature and human experience—such as admiring mountains, enjoying travel, or watching athletic competitions—to explain this longing for glory.

These experiences are only faint reflections—mere fragments—of God’s glory. If such created beauty can bring joy, how much greater must the glory of God Himself be?

Moses’ request surpasses ours. He asks to see God’s glory, seeking supreme joy beyond all earthly pleasure.

God responds by declaring His goodness and mercy, yet He also says that no one can see His face and live. This reflects humanity’s fallen state—we can no longer freely enjoy God’s unveiled presence as Adam once did.

God then places Moses in the cleft of the rock, covering him as His glory passes by, allowing him to see only His back.

For Christians, this is no riddle. In the light of the New Testament, the rock clearly points to Jesus Christ.

We can only behold God through Christ. Christ is the image of the invisible God. Through His incarnation, God humbles Himself so that we may know Him.

Even now, we see only dimly. We know God’s nature and glory only as much as Scripture reveals for our salvation. Full vision awaits eternity.

Thus, verses 12 to 23 show progression: from God’s presence with His people to the revelation of God’s glory through Christ.

There is nothing more important for a Christian than knowing God—His nature, His glory, His attributes. This elevates our spiritual life profoundly.

We are not merely to know God through His blessings, but through His being. When we behold God’s glory in Christ, our hearts are lifted.

Our greatest hope is eternal communion with the glorious God. Earthly beauty, achievements, and joys are but faint reflections.

Therefore, may God lead us to pray as Moses prayed: “Please show me your glory.”

This concludes today’s sharing. Thank you all.