Knowing the Ways of the Lord

Exodus 33:9 (NIV)
As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.

Psalm 103:7 (NIV)
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.

1. We Have Friendship with God

Exodus 33:11 (NIV)
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.

James 2:23 (NIV)
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

John 15:14–15 (NIV)
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Acts 4:13 (NIV)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Mark 3:14–15 (NIV)
He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

2. Favor with God

Exodus 33:11–17 (ESV)
Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Moses said to the LORD, "See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in your sight.' Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people."
And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
And he said to him, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"
And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."

Numbers 6:24–26 (NIV)
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Psalm 67:1–2 (NIV)
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 27:8 (NIV)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Psalm 105:4 (NIV)
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

3. Faith to Ask God for Big Things and Receive Them

Exodus 33:3–6 (NLT)
Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.
When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes.
For the LORD had told Moses to tell them, "You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you."
So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.

Exodus 33:13–15 (ESV)
Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.
And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here."

Exodus 33:17 (NIV)
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."

Exodus 33:18 (NIV)
Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

Exodus 33:19–23 (NIV)
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."

Revelation 4:3, 5 (NLT)
The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder.