Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you…” Exodus 33:18-19.
Moses asked to see God’s glory and God showed Moses His goodness. When Moses asked for glory and God showed him goodness, Moses didn’t cry, “Foul! That’s the old bait and switch trick. I ask for something of great value and You show me something of lesser value. I asked for glory, and You show me goodness. Give me a break!” When Moses asks for the glory of God, we expect signs and wonders or lightning and thunder or goosebumps as fire falls from heaven. But when God revealed His goodness, Moses understood that God’s goodness is His glory, and His glory is His goodness.
God’s goodness is the expression of His character. Therefore, the expression of His character is the manifestation of His glory. This means that God’s glory is everywhere.
- When you forgive the one who sinned against you – that’s a manifestation of the glory of God because it is an expression of His character. Your relationship is touched by glory.
- When you bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you – that’s a manifestation of the glory of God because it is an expression of His character. The kingdom has come near.
- When you are patient and kind toward your husband – that’s a manifestation of the glory of God because it is an expression of His character. Your home is visited by glory in every kindness you show.
When we think of glory, we probably think of something like revival. We think of hands raised in worship, voices lifted in song, and loud preaching. We think of shouting and dancing – if someone’s not dancing, it’s not revival!. But let’s be honest – we don’t see much of that glory. And the everyday glory of God which is an expression of His goodness is not recognized as glory – it’s just considered as something Christians are called to do, We are called to be good to other people. Yet that goodness is the manifestation of the glory of God! Many miss this because it is so common – it’s barely worth mentioning. Yet think of Jesus. John said this of Him in John 1:14 –
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth,
When John beheld the glory of Jesus, he didn’t see fireworks and thunder or signs and wonders – he saw grace and truth. He didn’t see dancing and didn’t hear singing – he saw the goodness of God. Grace for the soul and truth for the mind is the goodness of God which is the glory of God!
Moses prayed, “God, show me Your glory.” We can say to one another, “Show me God’s glory.” Moses was waiting for God to manifest His glory. God is waiting on you to manifest His glory – His grace, His truth, His goodness. As you demonstrate the goodness of God, you manifest the glory of God. As you walk in grace and truth, your steps are bathed in glory!
Tim Brown has been in some sort of ministry since February of 1973 – as a youth pastor, an assistant pastor, and a senior pastor. Tim planted Calvary Chapel Fremont in January of 1997 and continues to pastor there. Tim has been married since August of 1976 to Fran. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
