“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.’ Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
- Exodus 33:17-19 -

In the midst of sin of idolatry, Moses had a candid conversation, ‘as one speaks to a friend’ (v 11). He reminds God that Israel, and all its problems, was his responsibility (v 13).

God’s response is so encouraging. He’s not offended by Moses’ candor, but he doesn’t answer with the specifics of his plan either. Instead, he says, ‘My Presence will go with you’ (v 14) and we witness an unforgettable example of what that means (vs 21–23). This glimpse into the inner workings of the tent of meeting shows us that true prayer involves trusting God enough to tell him what we really think and loving God enough to know that his Presence is all we really need. Jesus taught his disciples the same thing. How could this truth refocus your prayer life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we identify with your disciples when they said, “Teach us to pray”. Lord, teach us to pray.