I Wanna Be Like Moses

A few years back, a Gatorade commercial made the phrase "I wanna be like Mike" pretty popular.  The Mike they spoke of was Michael Jordan - the world re-known NBA basketball player who revolutionize the sport.  He was extraordinary - a giant of his time.  Well, I have my heroes too.  For me, I wanna be like Moses.


In Exodus 33, God spells out His relationship with Moses.  Verse 11 says, The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.  But at this time, God was displeased with Israel and He had instructed Moses to bring the people to the promise land but that He (God) was not gonna go with them.  And this is where the depth of Moses' relationship with God shines... check it out:


(12) Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. (Here Moses is reacting to God saying He was just going to send an angel. God was no longer going to escort them into the promise land.)


You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me. If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”  (In the earlier passage, Moses relationship with God is described as a friend - yet here, Moses desires more - he desired a deeper walk.)



The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”


Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Moses knew that nothing had worth apart from God - John 15:5)


And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”


Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Moses wasn't satisfied with his relationship with God - he wanted more - he desired God - he panteth after God as a deep panteth for the waters. Psalm 42:1)


And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”  

Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”  (And God grants Moses' request)

Moses was an extraordinary man.  He knew his God; he loved his God; he desired his God.  And I... well, I wanna be like Moses.  Kind of lofty huh.  Well 

I will keep my eyes on the prize and continue to take two steps forward.  

I wanna walk with God and hear Him say "I am pleased with you."  With the world in crisis mode, wars and rumors of wars - a lot of unrest.  It's very easy to see the sign plainly, that we are near the end of time.  But we don't know when the day will be - so in the mean time - I will strive to obtain the relationship Jesus paved for me when He died on the cross for my sins.  What better way to finish strong than to strive to be like Moses.