THE PERSONALITY OF GOD
by Erwin Bourne—March 12, 2002
We believe in a triune God: God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Each has a distinct
personality—And these three are one (I Jo. 5;7). The
Old Testament was the dispensation of the Father, the
I AM of Ex. 3:14. The four Gospels cover the
dispensation of the Word, Jesus period on earth. And
Acts through Revelation covers the dispensation of the
Holy Spirit. In this lesson we want to study about
God revealing Himself to Moses.
We are finding some great revelations of God in Exodus
33:12 through 23. Most of the scriptures quoted are
from the NLT—New Living Translation. Use several
versions and follow along with me as we study about
God. Moses has two requests of God. (1.) Please…show
me your intentions (v. 13). He wanted to understand
God fully so that he could know exactly what God
wanted him to do. Then Moses had one more request.
(2.) Please, let me see your glorious presence (v.
18). God’s answers are studied below.
“I will give you rest—
Everything will be fine for you” (Ex. 33:14).
Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me,
‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you
haven’t told me whom you will send with me.’” And the
Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses.”
I, as a missionary on the Amazon, feel like saying as
Moses did, If you don’t go with us personally, don’t
let us move a step from this place!” (v. 15).
Moses’ second request was to see God’s glorious
presence. God told Moses that He would show him His
“goodness” and His “kindness” and “mercy,” “But you
may not look directly at my face” (vs. 19 and 20).
God placed Moses in the cleft of the rock (Jesus is
the revelation of God). No one can come to the Father
except through me (John 14:6). God continued, saying
that after He had passed, He would remove his hand and
you will see me from behind. But my face will not be
seen (v. 23). God’s great glory is yet ahead. We can
see where God has been and what He has done. Why
should we be disheartened? Someday He will reveal His
glory!
—Erwin and Jean Bourne