Moses possessed an extensive knowledge of the Lord. This he had acquired partly through direct revelation and partly through personal experience. God condescended to reveal Himself to His servant in an exceptionally intimate way, speaking to him ‘face to face as a man speaketh to his friend’, Exod. 33. 11; cf. Num. 12. 8. Moses also came to know much of God from his own experiences. Two examples will suffice. (i) Because God had delivered him ‘from the sword of Pharaoh’, Moses gave the name of Eliezer (‘God of help’) to his second son, Exod. 18. 4. This shows that he recognized God’s providence in his life, specifically when one of his brethren incidentally alerted him to his danger, Exod. 2. 13-15. (ii) His covered face and uncovered feet during his first encounter with the Lord show that he early learnt the need for befitting reverence in His presence, Exod. 3. 5-6.
Among his many abilities, Moses could sing. Scripture records one psalm (Psalm 90) and two songs (Exod. 15; Deut. 32) which he composed. Each pulsates with his enjoyment of the Lord, both in His nature and in His glorious acts. How he loved to speak of Him and to Him!
Aided mainly by today’s readings, we attempt to capture some idea of the range of Moses’ appreciation of God. Moses knew Him as a God of truth, a God of wrath, a God of forgiveness, a God of knowledge, and a God of great power – manifested, by way of example, in Israel’s redemption from bondage, Exod. 9. 16; 32. 11, and in the opening of the earth to swallow up Korah and his company, Num. 16. 30-32. Moses knew Him as jealous and just; as merciful and gracious; as awesome and invisible; as longsuffering and eternal; as glorious in holiness and abundant in goodness. Moses spoke both of His ‘greatness’ and, in beautiful word pictures, of His gentleness towards His people; ‘the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son’, Deut. 1. 31, and ‘bare you on eagles’ wings’, Exod. 19. 4; cf. Deut. 32. 11. Yet, though Moses knew so much of God, he longed above all else to ‘know’ Him even more intimately and to enjoy His presence continuously, Exod. 33. 13-16.
Lord, grant me that I too ‘may know thee’ more intimately.
