Today’s Scripture: Matthew 5:8, KJV- “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
Have you seen God? As we humans have moments of purity, we also have moments we see God. Just this morning the bright red sunrise was so glorious, I knew I was seeing the majesty of God.
My eyes were opened recently when reading Exodus 33: 18 where Moses said “Please, show me Your glory.” Moses wanted to see God clearer than he had already experienced. “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 33:19, NIV)
Thankfully, the LORD does have mercy and compassion for us. He grants us moments where we do witness His goodness passing right in front of us. The scripture that had escaped my memory was Exodus 33:23 where God said to Moses “Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” (NKJV)
Wait a second, you mean Moses saw God’s back? What exactly does that mean? I had to dig into commentaries at www.biblehub.com for established interpretations. As Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers explains it, God even let Moses see some actual portion of His “glory”- as much as mortal man could possibly behold. I am thankful that God does give us glimpses of His glory.
Also in the Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary they stated that because human language and human thought can only conceive of the nature of the absolute Spirit according to the analogy of the human form.
These words describe that our human language and thought can only attempt to describe the God we see in our own terms. This is also what Jesus was doing on His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Jesus was giving us disciples a glimpse of a Godly life.
I am not a theologian and do not have the capacity to capture the details but as a follower of Jesus, I am thankful for the glimpses of God’s Glory we are privileged to see and experience.
We are, as Jesus promised, blessed. Moses spoke to God as a friend, Jesus spoke to us as His friends. Moses wanted more and so do we. God gives us what He knows we can handle. As Jesus promised in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (NIV)
When we desire God, we are filled with His glory. Thankfully, we can see the world through the lens of God’s overwhelming glory. As children of God we recognize the works of our heavenly Father.
Regardless of the evil that abounds on this earth, we can know and witness the peace of God. We can rejoice and be glad in all things, including our persecution as Jesus promised in Matthew 5:12. When we take Jesus’ personal proclamation “You are the salt of the earth” in Matthew 5:13, we have a responsibility to share the flavor of God.
Matthew 5:14 also tells us “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (NKJV) Let us not hide what we see in God. Let us share the light of God’s glory that He grants us to see.
As Matthew 5:16 instructs us “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NIV) When we see God let us allow this light to shine for all others for the glory of God.
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing us to see Your glory. Humble us LORD. Please carry us to where Your presence is. As we gaze upon Your beauty we are allowed to witness You in ways that are beyond our human existence. Thank You for the life and promises of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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