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That's What I Look Like

When Moses asked to see God’s glory in Exodus 33, God didn’t deny the request. But He did respond in a way that reveals something much deeper than just a vision of splendor. He said:

"I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you... You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live... 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." (Exodus 33:19-23)

God was saying: I will set you on this rock next to Me. I will hide you in the cleft of that rock. I will cover you with My hand. Then I will cause all My goodness to pass before you.

And in this prophetic moment, we see something profound:

  • The rock is Christ. Paul later says in 1 Corinthians 10:4 that the Israelites "drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ."

  • The cleft is the hiding place in Him. We are hidden in Christ—safe, secure, and covered.

  • The hand of God over Moses is the hand that both protects and reveals, showing only what we are ready to see.

So when God says, “I will make all My goodness pass before you,” He’s saying, “That’s what I want you to see. That’s what I look like.”

And what does that goodness look like? In the next chapter, Exodus 34, God answers:

"The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness..."

That’s the image He wants burned into our spirits. Not lightning and wrath. Not harshness and cold distance. But goodness. Mercy. Grace. Patience. Loyal love. Faithfulness.

And when He says to Moses, “You’ll see My back,” it’s another way of saying: “You’ll recognize Me in hindsight.” And isn’t that how it often works in our lives? We look back and realize—that was God.

When we see the mercy that kept us… the grace that carried us… the patience that waited for us… the love that wouldn’t let go… the faithfulness that stayed through it all—that’s what He looks like.

This is why it’s so important to be hidden in the Rock, in Christ. Because in Him, the fullness of God is revealed (Colossians 1:19). In Christ, we see the glory of God made visible. And from that place of being hidden in Him, we are shown the goodness of God as He passes by.

No matter if it was yesterday or a decade ago, when you look back and see mercy instead of wrath, grace instead of condemnation, patience instead of punishment—that’s God. That’s the evidence. That’s the trail of glory He leaves behind.

And when your eyes are opened by the Spirit to recognize it, you’ll hear Him whisper:

"That’s what I look like."

May we never stop looking. And may we never stop pointing others to that goodness. Because once you've seen Him—truly seen Him—you’ll never mistake Him for anything else again.

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