Sermons on Exodus 33:18

Exodus 33:18 Interpretation:

Seeking God's Presence and Glory: A Transformative Journey (Apostolic Church Dallas) interprets Exodus 33:18 as a call to move beyond merely experiencing God's presence to being enveloped in His glory. The sermon emphasizes that Moses, despite his profound encounters with God, still yearned for more, illustrating that there is always more of God to experience. The Hebrew word "kavod," meaning glory, is highlighted, with its connotations of heaviness and armor, suggesting that carrying God's glory is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Longing for God's Glory: Prioritizing His Presence (Crazy Love) presents Exodus 33:18 as a reflection of Moses' deep desire to see God's glory, prioritizing it above all else. The sermon uses the analogy of a genie granting wishes to question whether seeing God's glory would be on the listener's list of desires. It emphasizes the sacredness of seeking God's presence and challenges the congregation to desire God's glory above material or earthly blessings.

Experiencing God's Glory: The Heart of Revival (MLJTrust) interprets Exodus 33:18 as a profound request by Moses to see God's glory, which is ultimately about seeking a deeper revelation of God's character and presence. The sermon emphasizes the paradox of God revealing and concealing His glory simultaneously, highlighting that while God shows His "back parts," His face remains unseen. This duality is seen as a metaphor for the Christian experience of knowing God partially in this life. The sermon also draws a parallel between Moses' experience and the revelation of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ, suggesting that the New Testament fulfillment of this request is found in Christ.

Longing for God's Glory: A Journey of Faith (MLJTrust) presents Moses' request as an example of the daring quality of great faith, where Moses, despite having experienced God's presence, seeks an even deeper encounter. The sermon interprets this as a model for Christians to continually seek more of God, moving beyond satisfaction with past experiences to a longing for God's glory itself. The sermon emphasizes the personal nature of this quest, suggesting that it is possible for individuals to experience such revelations even outside of corporate revival.

Yearning for God's Glory: A Deeper Encounter (MLJTrust) interprets Exodus 33:18 as a call for Christians to seek a deeper, more personal experience of God's glory. The sermon highlights the partial nature of God's revelation to Moses, emphasizing that while God's full glory is beyond human comprehension, believers are invited to seek glimpses of it. This interpretation encourages Christians to pursue a deeper relationship with God, characterized by a longing for His presence and glory.

Exodus 33:18 Theological Themes:

Seeking God's Presence and Glory: A Transformative Journey (Apostolic Church Dallas) introduces the theme of moving from experiencing God's presence to being enveloped in His glory. It suggests that the glory of God is what breaks yokes and chains, and that believers are called to carry this glory as armor, enabling them to impact the world.

Longing for God's Glory: Prioritizing His Presence (Crazy Love) explores the theme of prioritizing God's presence over earthly blessings. It challenges the congregation to desire God's glory above all else, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from being in God's presence and seeing His glory.

Experiencing God's Glory: The Heart of Revival (MLJTrust) introduces the theme of revival as a special manifestation of God's glory, where His presence becomes unusually clear to His people. The sermon suggests that revival is a time when the church experiences a glimpse of God's glory, akin to Moses' experience, and emphasizes the sovereignty of God in granting and withdrawing such experiences.

Longing for God's Glory: A Journey of Faith (MLJTrust) presents the theme of spiritual progression, where believers are encouraged to move from satisfaction with past experiences to a continual pursuit of God's glory. The sermon emphasizes that true revival is rooted in a desire for God's glory rather than personal or corporate blessings.

Yearning for God's Glory: A Deeper Encounter (MLJTrust) explores the theme of partial revelation, where believers are encouraged to seek glimpses of God's glory in this life, with the understanding that full revelation will come in eternity. The sermon emphasizes the importance of personal encounters with God as a foretaste of heavenly glory.

Exodus 33:18 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Longing for God's Glory: Prioritizing His Presence (Crazy Love) provides historical context by discussing the Israelites' worship of the golden calf and God's response. It highlights the severity of God's holiness and the consequences of idolatry, emphasizing the importance of reverence and obedience in worship.

Longing for God's Glory: A Journey of Faith (MLJTrust) provides historical context by explaining the background of Exodus 33, where the Israelites had sinned by worshiping the golden calf, leading to God's initial decision not to accompany them to Canaan. This context highlights the significance of Moses' intercession and his bold request to see God's glory as a means of securing God's continued presence with His people.

Exodus 33:18 Cross-References in the Bible:

Seeking God's Presence and Glory: A Transformative Journey (Apostolic Church Dallas) references the tabernacle and the holiest of holies, drawing parallels between the Old Testament practices and the believer's access to God's glory through Jesus. It emphasizes that the veil was torn, allowing believers to enter into the holiest of holies and experience God's glory.

Longing for God's Glory: Prioritizing His Presence (Crazy Love) references Leviticus 9, where the glory of the Lord appears to the people after they follow God's commands. It also mentions 2 Corinthians 3, which speaks of the ministry of the Spirit exceeding the glory that Moses experienced, encouraging believers to seek a greater revelation of God's glory.

Experiencing God's Glory: The Heart of Revival (MLJTrust) references several New Testament passages to draw parallels between Moses' experience and the revelation of God's glory in Jesus Christ. Key references include John 1:18, which speaks of Jesus as the one who reveals God, and 2 Corinthians 4:6, which describes the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Christ. These references are used to support the idea that the ultimate fulfillment of Moses' request is found in the person of Jesus.

Longing for God's Glory: A Journey of Faith (MLJTrust) references Psalm 42 and Psalm 17 to illustrate the longing for God's presence and glory expressed by Old Testament saints. The sermon also cites Philippians 3:10, where Paul expresses a desire to know Christ more deeply, as an example of the New Testament fulfillment of this longing.

Yearning for God's Glory: A Deeper Encounter (MLJTrust) references 2 Corinthians 12, where Paul describes his experience of being caught up into the third heaven, as an example of a partial revelation of God's glory. The sermon also cites 1 Peter 1:8, which speaks of rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory, as an expression of the Christian experience of God's presence.

Exodus 33:18 Christian References outside the Bible:

Longing for God's Glory: Prioritizing His Presence (Crazy Love) references A.W. Tozer's concept of the importance of one's view of God, suggesting that what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. This idea is used to emphasize the need for a correct understanding of God's nature to truly seek His glory.

Yearning for God's Glory: A Deeper Encounter (MLJTrust) references Jonathan Edwards and his experiences of God's glory, describing how Edwards was moved to tears and a sense of being overwhelmed by the presence of God. The sermon also cites Charles Spurgeon, who speaks of the possibility of having an infallible assurance of one's election and the joy that comes from such assurance. These references are used to illustrate the ongoing possibility of experiencing God's glory in a personal and transformative way.

Exodus 33:18 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Longing for God's Glory: Prioritizing His Presence (Crazy Love) uses the analogy of a genie granting wishes to challenge the congregation to consider whether seeing God's glory would be among their top desires. This illustration is used to provoke thought about the priorities and desires of the heart in relation to God's presence and glory.

Yearning for God's Glory: A Deeper Encounter (MLJTrust) uses the analogy of thunder and lightning as a secular illustration to describe the power and might of God. The sermon suggests that just as thunder and lightning are glimpses of God's power, so too are revivals glimpses of God's glory. This analogy is used to help the audience understand the concept of partial revelation and the awe-inspiring nature of God's presence.