Knowing God

            “And Moses said unto the Lord, …Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest….And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”  Exodus 33:12-14, 17. Why should you and I want to know God? If one does not know God, there is no peace. Isaiah said, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21. If one knows God, they know peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. There will always something missing in our life until we know Him! We are made in the “image of God.” Genesis 1:26, 27. We are a dual being that consists of the flesh and the spirit. Our spirit that is made in the image of God greatest desire is to know God. What is the supreme desire of our heart? How can we know God?

            We can know God through His Word. Moses said, “If I have found grace in thy sight.” There is no hope for you or me apart from God’s grace. Paul wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. We all have sinned and separated ourselves from God. Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2. However, we are saved by grace through faith. Faith only comes by hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17. How do we come to know God? Through God’s word! Paul said, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12. Moses had faith long before he made the above statements. Now he wanted to know God better. How well do we know God?

            We can know God through focusing on His Way. Moses said, “Shew me now thy way, that I may know thee.” We come to know God better by observing His works that are revealed to us in His Word. We know God by learning about His plan of creation and redemption. We know Him by studying the work of God among His people. We know God by comparing the New Testament fulfillment of His Old Testament prophecies. As one studies the life of Christ, we come to know God better. We get a greater appreciation for God’s love. John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9. We get a better understanding of His grace. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14. Lingering at the Cross draws us closer to God. Focusing on the Second Coming of Christ shows our desire to be with Him and be like Him. 1 John 3:1-3.

            We can know God through a full surrender to Him. God said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Moses had been called to a difficult task. In his life, Moses had undergone many trials. Moses realizes that God had been with him all the way. God’s faithfulness in trials moved Moses to want to know God better. Moses was willing to keep following wherever God’s will led him.

            Do you and I long to know God? Do we long to know Him better? “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8-9. The writer of Hebrews said, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” 11:6. Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32, 33. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16.
Bobby D. Gayton