“And he said, ‘Please, show me Your glory.’ Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you.'” — Exodus 33:18-19 (NKJV)

Moses had just heard the most amazing promise ever—the Lord Himself would travel with them to the Promised Land. But instead of being happy enough, Moses felt something even stronger burning in his heart. Standing in the tent with the Lord’s presence all around him, Moses asked for something that had never been asked before. “Please,” Moses whispered, his voice shaking, “show me Your glory.” Moses wasn’t asking to see lightning or earthquakes or scary power. He was asking to see the real heart of who the Lord was—His kindness, His love, His true self.

Everything went quiet for what felt like forever.

Then came words that changed everything: “I will let all My goodness walk past you.” Moses’ heart jumped with joy! The Lord’s glory wasn’t His power to destroy things. His glory was His goodness—His kindness, His mercy, His perfect love.

“But,” the Lord said gently, “you can’t see My face and live. No person can look right at perfect goodness and stay alive. It would be too much.”

Moses listened carefully as the Lord told him the plan. “See that big rock over there? I’ll put you in a crack in that rock and cover you with My hand. After My goodness goes by, I’ll move My hand, and you’ll see My back—you’ll see what’s left after My goodness passes by.” Tears filled Moses’ eyes. The Creator of everything was going to show him His deepest heart—not His anger, but His love.

“Why do You want to show me this?” Moses asked, amazed. “Because My goodness is what changes hearts,” the Lord said. “When people really see My kindness, My patience, how I forgive—that’s what makes them want to love Me back. Being scared might change how people act for a little while, but only goodness changes hearts forever.” Moses got ready for something incredible. He was starting to understand that the most powerful thing in the universe wasn’t thunder or fire or big armies. The most powerful thing in the universe was perfect, endless goodness.

“This is what the cross will show everyone,” the Lord said quietly. “When I give My life for people who hate Me, the whole world will see that My glory—who I really am—is love that sacrifices everything.” Moses left that day knowing he was about to see something that would change not just his heart, but the heart of everyone who would ever live. He was about to see that the Lord’s greatest glory was His goodness.

Did You Know? When Moses asked to see the Lord’s glory, the answer was “I will make all My goodness pass before you.” This shows that the Creator’s glory is His good character, not His power. Romans 2:4 says “the goodness of the Lord leads you to repentance”—it’s His kindness, not scary threats, that really changes hearts. The cross shows us this goodness perfectly.

🔥 Personal Reflection:

  • What changes your heart more—fear of being punished or knowing someone loves you?
  • How has someone’s kindness changed how you felt about them?
  • Why do you think seeing perfect goodness would be too much for people?

🙏 Prayer: Dear Lord, help me understand that Your glory is Your goodness, not Your power to punish. Show me Your kindness, Your patience, and Your love so my heart will change because of love, not fear. When I think about the cross, help me see the greatest show of Your goodness—giving Your life for people who didn’t deserve it. Let Your goodness change my heart so I can show that same goodness to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.