5 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Exodus 12:43-14:31
Matthew 19:1-30

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Exodus 14:4 (CSB): “‘I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.’ So the Israelites did this.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

Multiple Hebrew words are typically translated as “glory” in the English Bible. The one used in Exodus 14 is the Hebrew word “kabod.” (For all of you overachievers, it’s “כָּבֵד.”)

The word “kabod,” literally translated as “heavy or weighty,” refers to something that demands our attention and respect. When it is referring to God, it takes on an even richer meaning.

When we speak of God’s glory, we are referring to the beauty of God. It isn’t so much that He is aesthetically beautiful. Instead, it refers to His presence. The unimaginable joy and wonder of the angels and believers who joyfully kneel in God’s unspeakably breathtaking presence understand exactly what it means.

Augustine of Hippo understood the joy of God’s glory when he wrote: “Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”

When we read Exodus 14, God speaks a few times about His glory. But what we hear Him saying is that He was going to be glorified in how He dealt with a rebellious Pharoah.

One question that comes up is this: “Since it is wrong for us to seek our own glory, to be exalted among others, then why is it OK for God to seek His own glory?” The answer to that question is simple. It is not wrong for God to glorify Himself because there is none greater than Him. If He were to seek the glory of something other than Himself, He would be guilty of idolatry.

Further, we WANT Him to seek His own glory. We want our favorite restaurant or theme park to strive to achieve high standards, enabling us to enjoy them even more. In a similar way, we want God to focus on His glory and then allow us to experience His joyful presence.

This brings up another question: “Does God become better as He seeks His glory?” Nope. What it essentially means is that when God glorifies Himself, He enables us to see and experience His glory in a way that we had not been able to experience previously.

John Piper (author of “Desiring God”) has said it’s like looking into a clear night sky. The stars seem so small and far away. Yet, if we look into a telescope, the stars seem bigger and closer. Now, did that telescope make the stars move closer or get bigger? Of course not! That telescope simply enabled us to experience those stars in a way that is much better than we had been able to experience them with our own eyes.

It is this way with God’s glory. God’s glory is beautiful in all of its perfection. But we sometimes cannot experience it and enjoy it. So, God gives us an experience (telescope) that enables us to see His beauty and power and enjoy Him more.

By the time Exodus 14 ends, God has not changed. He is still the same, perfect God. Yet, He demonstrated His grace, power, and glory by safely bringing the Israelites to the other side of the Red Sea and destroying the Egyptian army. God didn’t change, but everyone saw Him differently. He was glorified in their eyes.

Exodus 14:31 (CSB): “When Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.”

How long has it been since God has graciously allowed you to experience His glory? Why not plead, with all your heart, like Moses did, to ask God to allow you to experience Him?

Exodus 33:18 (CSB): “Then Moses said, ‘Please, let me see your glory.'”

Keep pleading, from the depths of your hungry heart, and see what God will do.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to give you a desire and hunger to know and experience Him.
  • Ask God to reveal any faulty thoughts or unconfessed sins that might hinder your desire to enjoy your God. Then, ask for God’s grace to confess/repent and make the proper adjustments.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into what God’s glory is, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What is the glory of God?”

A wonderful workbook that might help you on your journey is “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby.

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)