Goodness Gracious!
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).[/perfectpullquote]“Goodness gracious!” is an old-timey saying exclaimed in surprise or alarm. In the 1700s, the phrase alluded to the goodness and grace of God. I would like to think Moses may have uttered those words at the end of our chapter.
Have you ever longed for God’s presence? Have you felt abandoned by God, especially when life didn’t go the way you wanted? Have you hesitated to do what God asked because you were inadequate? There are many misguided songs that ask for God’s presence in the life of a Christian, but we will see from Moses’ experience that God is never far from His children. The children of Israel were punished for worshiping a golden calf while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments (Chapter 32). We see God’s anger in Verses 1–6 of our chapter. The people were humiliated and told to remove their ornaments — this was no time for festivities, and the ornaments were reminders of how Aaron made the golden calf in Chapter 32. God kept His distance from the people, but He didn’t let their sin ruin His plan for them — He would find a way to deal with them without destroying them. Although God would not dwell among the sinful people, He still remained nearby and commissioned an ambassador to intercede between Him and the people: Moses (Vv. 7–11). Even in His displeasure, God wanted to reach the people. The same is true today — believers are God’s ambassadors, calling both the lost (2 Corinthians 5:20) and sinning brethren (Galatians 6:1) to reconciliation with God.
Moses was always interceding for the sinning Hebrews, even to the point of wanting to be taken out of God’s book if He did not forgive His people (Exodus 32:32). Do we have that same concern for the eternal destiny of people? Also, note the respect the people had for Moses, and how they continued to worship, even when God seemed far off (V. 10.) Moses had an enormous task ahead of him. His first attempt at delivering the people seemed to fail until God took over with the plagues against Egypt. Moses knew it was not in man to accomplish God’s purposes, and being “the meekest man on earth” (Numbers 12:3), he knew they needed God’s presence to succeed. Moses required God’s assurance that He would walk with them and not stand afar off (Vv. 12–17). Sometimes, we can doubt God’s favor when we don’t “feel” His presence. We feel we need assurance that God is with us. Now that God answered Moses’ prayer, Moses asked for even bolder assurance: He asked to see God’s glory. This man who talked with God “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend,” wanted to see God face-to-face. God granted that prayer in a way that was safe for Moses — He hid Moses in a cleft in a rock and let him see His back parts but not His face (V. 23). We, however, are blessed even though we cannot see God. Although Moses was blessed by God’s appearance, we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). We don’t need to “see” or “feel” God to believe. God’s goodness is His glory, and it is most assuredly manifest in His mercy (V. 19). If He has been merciful to us, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
Here are four life lessons from this passage:
1. If you feel abandoned by God, check your spiritual life and walk, and confess any known sin.
2. Seek someone with a strong walk to help you grow your relationship with God in Christ.
3. Ask God for assurance when you feel weak in faith — He can handle the hard questions!
4. Accept His mercy and goodness as tokens of His presence, and don’t be led by feelings. Remember our opening verse: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
– Alan Allegra
