4th.: Moses’ personal questions to God, p3
Moses continued to ask probing questions,
“If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up from here.” (Exo. 33:15b).
Moses asked that God either go with them away from Mt Sinai, or just leave them at Mt. Sinai.
Moses then asked a rhetorical question,
“For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight.” (Exo. 33:16a).
Moses answered his own question with,
“Is it not in that thou goes with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the Earth.” (Exo. 33:16b-c).
Moses said that he knew that the people of Israel had God’s favor, and the other nations did not, because God had revealed himself to them, and not to the other ethnic groups of the world.
God answered Moses with,
“I will do this thing also that thou has spoken, for thou has found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” (Exo. 33:17).
Because of God’s grace, and because of the relationship God had with Moses (and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], God promised to show Himself continuously as being with Israel.
It is ok to ask God to give a visible demonstration (a sign) that God is on our side.
And more importantly that we are on His side.
“Show me a token for good, that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed, because, thou, Lord, has helped me, and comforted me.” (Ps. 86:17)