The Face of God

Exodus 33:18-23 NLT

Moses responded, "Then show me Your Glorious Presence." [19] The LORD replied, "I will make all My Goodness pass before you, and I will call out My Name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. [20] But you may not look directly at My Face, for no one may see Me and live." [21] The LORD continued, "Look, stand near Me on this rock. [22] As My Glorious Presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My Hand until I have passed by. [23] Then I will remove My Hand and let you see Me from behind. But My Face will not be seen."

Moses had a tremendously close relationship with Yahweh (The "I Am" Lord), but it was limited, as we see in this passage. He was never permitted to see God's Face in his earthly existence.

He only saw God's Outline and Back as He passed by.

Yet we know that, hundreds of years later, He met God Face to face.

So it took a while, but the Lord remembered and answered Moses' prayer in a miraculous way.

Luke 9:28-31 NLT

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. [29] And as He was praying, the appearance of His Face was transformed, and His clothes became dazzling white. [30] Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. [31] They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about His exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.

The Yahweh Lord, outlined in the Old Testament was gloriously revealed in the New Testament.

We are so, so privileged to be able to know God personally and have the revelation of His Nature imprinted on our hearts as fleshed out by Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The "I Am-ness" of God is coloured in by Jesus who proclaimed Himself to be:

The Way, The Truth and The Life

The Bread of Life

The Good Shepherd

The True Vine

The Resurrection and The Life

The Light of the World

The Door

The Alpha and Omega

The Lion of the tribe of Judah

The Root of David

The Lamb of God

The Bright Morning Star

From His Proclamations we see the Face of God in focus.

Even His disciples were not totally convinced until after His Resurrection:

John 14:7-9 NLT

If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!" [8] Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." [9] Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I Am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you?

I wonder if Jesus could ask me this same question? Have I been in fellowship with Him so long yet I still haven't grasped Who Jesus is?

Jesus makes it crystal clear, in ultra high definition, that He IS God - not a prophet or a teacher - but God incarnate - in flesh and blood. He's a Face we can see, a Person we can interact with.

Hallelujah!