Moses said to [the LORD], "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here…" 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."
Exodus 33:15,17
Approach God Boldly!
It's amazing how bold people can be in what they ask of others. The confident CEO makes the case for another raise. The proud athlete asks for more playing time. The cost cutting owner asks employees for more time after reducing their pay. In these and other similar cases, the line between confidence and arrogance is a fine one. Depending whether the person is the asker or the asked is a determining factor too.
But what about such amazing boldness in asking something, something great, of God himself? Can we dare? Should we dare? What does the Almighty think of such boldness coming from the hearts and lips of mortals?
The life of Moses as recorded in this part of Exodus gives us an amazing answer. Moses was no ordinary man. After all, he had been raised as a prince in the courts of Egypt's Pharaoh. And many years later the LORD himself spoke to Moses and called him to be the leader of his people. The LORD had direct contact with Moses as he gave his law on Mt. Sinai. And he regularly spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend!
And yet, Moses was a sinful man, no different than any of us. The biblical record is very frank about that. We see Moses stumble and fall in ways we can relate to all too well. But look at the boldness with which this sinful man approached the holy, unapproachable God! He asked boldly…and confidently. But even more amazing is the way the holy, unapproachable God answered his bold request: "I will do the very thing you've asked. I am pleased with you. I know you by name."
There is only one way that such things can be said of sinful humans by a holy God. There has to be a substitute. There has to be a sacrifice. There has to be a gift, supplying the perfection that God demands. Moses knew that, and he trusted that he had it…by faith. He knew of and wrote about the coming Son of God who would live for him, perfectly as God demands. He knew of and trusted in the Lamb of God who would give his innocent life as a sacrifice for all. In him, God was pleased and through faith in him Moses was perfectly pleasing as well. And so, as a forgiven and adopted child, he asked and asked boldly.
Fellow sinner, you have the same promises from a gracious God that Moses had. Jesus is the fulfiller of those promises. He lived for and died for you too! He cleanses you and gives you the gift of righteousness you need to stand before God as his dear child. And when God knows you in Jesus, he knows your name and is pleased with you, calling you his perfectly holy son or daughter. That's who you are in Jesus, so approach your Father with confidence and ask boldly as his beloved child!
Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you for sending your Son to be my Savior and brother. I know that in him I am your dearly loved child. Strengthen my faith by your Word that I might always be confident and bold to ask for your great and undeserved blessings. In Jesus' name. Amen.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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