“Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now Thy way, that I may know Thee.” Exodus 33:13
Long after Moses, David came on the scene of history, praying basically the same thing as Moses. David prayed, as recorded in Psalm 25: “Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation on Thee do I wait all the day.” (v.4,5) How is it that these two men of God, anointed, chosen, and called of God, needed to appeal to God for the knowledge of His ways? It is because there are two aspects of knowing the ways of God, the first being a clear understanding, and grasp of the objective, written word of God, as recorded in Scripture. The second aspect has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit who comes to reveal the things of Christ to us. (1 Cor. 2:10) The Spirit that enlightened Moses and David is that one whom Paul refers to in one of his prayers, as being, that “…Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Eph. 1:17) The Spirit of God takes the believer beyond, but always according to, the objective truth of Scripture, to the meaning and application of the truth. It is then that God gives the believer grace to appropriate Christ according to this truth. The knowledge of the ways of God will always lead the believer to a knowledge of Christ, for He is the objective, the goal, as well as the prize. How then is the believer to know the ways of God? The first thing is the earnest, ardent study of the Word of God. This endeavor must be undertaken, trusting the Spirit of God to lead, guide, and give wisdom and knowledge. It is as the believer studies the word of God in this manner, submitted to the authority of Christ, that the Spirit makes the word come alive, strengthening the soul to believe. Secondly, it is the believer earnestly prays to know the ways of God, that God will reward him, the Spirit revealing them to him. As certain as God’s response to Moses, David, and Paul, so will He teach His ways to the one who will truly seek Him. With that knowledge comes great blessing. What were those blessings?
Moses was a witness of great and marvelous manifestations of the glory of God. He saw the works of God in the plagues of Egypt, essential for the Israelites to be set free to leave. He saw the cloud that led the people by day, and the pillar of fire by night. When the Red Sea parted, and the people went down into it, crossing over it to the other side, Moses saw it. But the sight of these “works” of God, though a blessing in and of themselves, was not the highest blessing. There was something in the heart of Moses, a thirst for something higher and greater. What was it? Moses answers the question for us in his prayer to God: “…show me Thy way that I may know Thee.” (Ex. 33;13) The highest and greatest blessing in knowing the ways of God is the personal knowledge that God gives of Himself, His person and nature, to the heart and soul. True life, Eternal Life, is this knowledge of Christ. This was the quest of the Apostle Paul, “…to know Him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection.” (Phil 3:10)
Another great blessing can be discovered in the 25th Psalm of David. He writes of being taught the truth, and then adds, “…for Thou art the God of my salvation: on Thee do I wait all the day.” Here is a man after God’s own heart, who desires to know the personal, deep, work of God in his own soul with regard to being saved from sin. He is intent on waiting, trusting in the Lord all the day for the realization of so great a salvation.
Dear Father, Teach us today Thy truth, and Thy ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.