Adventist News Network – September 19, 2025: Adventists mobilize aid after floods in Cape Verde & More Global News |Exodus – Lesson 12. “Please, Show Me Your Glory” | 📘 Sabbath School with Pastor Mark Finley
Series EXODUS with Pastor Mark Finley
Lesson 12. “Please, Show Me Your Glory”
The Longing for God’s Presence
Moses had already experienced many extraordinary encounters with God — yet his heart longed for more. He did not only want to serve God, but to truly know Him, to understand His nature, and to live in close fellowship with Him.
In the midst of disappointment and spiritual struggle, Moses asked for the highest thing imaginable: “Let me see Your glory!”
This request reveals a deep longing for God’s presence and shows that true spiritual maturity always goes hand in hand with an ever-growing desire for God.
In this lesson, we discover how God reveals Himself — not through spectacular signs, but through the beauty of His character.
Those who perceive the glory of God are themselves transformed and begin to reflect it in their own lives.
Contents:
12.1 The Tent of Meeting
A Place of Nearness – Where God Speaks with Man
The Tent of Meeting was a visible expression that God, despite the people’s apostasy, still desired closeness with them.
It stood outside the camp — a place of separation, yet also of deep fellowship.
There, Moses met with God as a friend speaks with a friend — an astonishing statement of trust and intimacy.
This relationship was not one-sided: Moses actively sought God’s presence, and God responded.
His time with God in the tent transformed him — outwardly and inwardly.
Likewise for us, spiritual growth becomes possible when we deliberately and regularly seek God’s presence.
12.2 That I May Know You
To Know God – Not Just to Know About Him
Moses had already witnessed great miracles and spent much time with God, yet he realized that his understanding of Him was still incomplete.
In deep humility he prayed, “Let me know Your ways, that I may know You.”
This desire was not driven by intellectual curiosity but by a passionate longing for genuine relationship.
Moses understood: only if God’s presence led him could he fulfill his calling.
God responded with grace and a promise to remain with him.
This scene teaches us that spiritual maturity does not mean knowing everything, but continually seeking to know God more deeply.
12.3 “Please, Show Me Your Glory”
Understanding God’s Nature – His Goodness Is His Glory
Moses’ request to see God’s glory came from a deep yearning not just to serve God but to truly know Him.
God granted this request not through a display of overwhelming power, but by revealing His goodness — for that is His true essence.
In doing so, God showed that His glory is found in His patience, grace, and love toward imperfect people.
This divine goodness transforms hearts and leads to repentance.
When we recognize God’s character — most clearly revealed at the cross of Christ — we ourselves are changed.
We too become mirrors of His glory — in our daily life, in our character, and in our relationships with others.
12.4 The Self-Revelation of God
The Name of the LORD – Who God Truly Is
In Exodus 34, God revealed to Moses His true nature — not in the form of an image, but through words describing His identity.
He calls Himself merciful, gracious, patient, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness — a self-description that becomes the core of the biblical message.
This scene is the “John 3:16” of the Old Testament because it shows that God’s glory lies in His character, not merely in His power.
Moses responds with worship, for true knowledge of God always leads to adoration.
In this moment, God also renews His covenant with the people and promises to perform wonders among them — if they remain faithful to Him.
This revelation calls us to know God’s character more deeply and to respond with love and obedience.
12.5 The Shining Face of Moses
Transformed by God’s Presence
The shining of Moses’ face was a visible sign of the inner transformation produced by his deep encounter with God’s goodness and nature.
It was not merely proximity to God, but the conscious recognition and acceptance of His character that brought about this change.
Moses himself was unaware of his radiance — true spiritual maturity often shows itself in humility and unconscious grace.
His glowing face became a mirror of God’s glory and a testimony to the people.
We too can be transformed when we open our hearts and fix our eyes on Christ, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18.
The glory that changes us begins with the recognition of God’s love — and leads to a life that reflects Him.
12.6 Summary
To Know God – and Be Transformed
Lesson 12 reveals Moses’ deep spiritual journey — though he had already experienced much with God, he longed for an even closer relationship with Him.
His plea to see God’s glory sprang from a desire to understand God’s nature more fully.
God responded by revealing not only His power but above all His goodness, grace, and faithfulness — the true core of His glory.
This encounter transformed Moses so profoundly that his face began to shine — a visible sign of inner transformation through God’s presence.
We too are transformed when we seek God not only with our minds but with our hearts.
This lesson invites us to seek God’s nearness, to contemplate His character, and to let Him shape our lives.
🌍 Adventist News Network – September 12, 2025: Medical Team Performed Surgeries that Restored Vision to Dozens & More News
Adventist News Network – September 12, 2025: Medical Team Performed Surgeries that Restored Vision to Dozens & More News |
This week on ANN: |
· Camp brings children together to play and learn in Albania, doctors restore sight to visually impaired patients in Sri Lanka, youth transform the famous tourist city of Cusco, Peru, through service activities, and a new documentary presents real stories of overcoming from Venezuela to Haiti.
· Stay tuned as ANN brings everything you have to know about what is happening in the church worldwide.
Exodus – Lesson 11.Apostasy and Intercession | 📘 Sabbath School with Pastor Mark Finley
Series EXODUS with Pastor Mark Finley
Lesson 11.Apostasy and Intercession
When Faith Falters – and Grace Appears
Lesson 11 leads us into one of the darkest yet most instructive episodes of Israel’s wilderness journey. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving God’s law, the people below lost their faith and turned to false gods. This dramatic fall shows how quickly humanity can slip into unbelief and sin without steadfast faith. Yet amid judgment shines a radiant example of divine grace: Moses’ intercession for an unfaithful people. His love, patience, and willingness to sacrifice reflect God’s heart, who does not desire the death of the sinner but his repentance. This lesson calls us to remain faithful to God and to stand for one another in prayer.
Content:
11.1 Failed Leadership
Weak Leadership in Times of Trial
Aaron’s failure shows the danger when spiritual leaders yield to the pressure of the majority instead of trusting God. In a moment of fear and uncertainty, Aaron lost spiritual clarity and was carried away by the people’s emotions. Instead of admonishing them and reminding them of God’s commands, he sought peace at the cost of truth. This example reminds us that true leadership requires courage, especially when obedience to God is unpopular. Aaron’s compromise led the people into sin, while genuine faith demands steadfastness, especially in times of crisis.
11.2 Idolatry and Evil
From Apostasy to Moral Decline
Israel’s idolatry quickly led them into moral and spiritual corruption. Once they turned from God, their worship lost all holiness and became a feast of self-glorification. By worshiping an image of an animal, they degraded not only God but also themselves. Idolatry distorts the understanding of creation and Creator—humans exalt their own works and replace the living God. This story shows that every false “god”—whether of gold, power, pleasure, or selfishness—ultimately separates us from God. This pattern repeats today whenever people value created things above the Creator Himself.
11.3 Corrupting Themselves
When the Heart Turns from the Creator
Israel’s “shameful acts” were not merely disobedience but a conscious betrayal of God’s love and guidance. By attributing their deliverance to a lifeless image, they denied the living God who had redeemed them with power. This distortion of truth led to spiritual blindness and moral decay. Idolatry often begins subtly—with things that may not be bad in themselves but take God’s place in our hearts. When God is not at the center, something else inevitably takes that place. Thus this story calls us to examine our hearts and keep our living relationship with God above all else.
11.4 God’s Righteous Wrath
God’s Wrath and Moses’ Intercession
God’s righteous anger against Israel’s idolatry shows that sin has serious consequences and cannot be trivialized. Yet this event also reveals the depth of God’s grace, for Moses bravely stood as intercessor for the people. Instead of seeking his own gain, Moses reminded God of His promises and pleaded for mercy—a moving example of selfless prayer. His actions show that true faith expresses itself in compassion, even for the misguided. God’s wrath is never arbitrary but an expression of His holiness and His desire to destroy evil, not humanity. This story reminds us how powerful prayer can be when it flows from love and trust in God’s character.
11.5 Intercession
Love That Gives Itself
Moses’ intercession reveals one of the deepest expressions of selfless love in Scripture. He was willing to give up his own life if God would forgive His people—a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrificial love. His prayer shows that true intercession is more than words; it is bearing the burdens of others in one’s heart. Moses understood that only God Himself could bear the guilt of the people—a thought fulfilled in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. This scene shows that forgiveness always has a cost, one that God Himself was willing to pay. It calls us to live compassion, sacrifice, and prayer for others as the true expression of discipleship.
11.6 Summary
From Apostasy to Intercession: Lessons from the Golden Calf
Lesson 11 reveals Israel’s tragic apostasy when, during Moses’ absence, they worshiped the golden calf. Their impatience and distrust of God quickly led to idolatry, moral decay, and open rebellion. Aaron failed as a leader by yielding to the people’s pressure instead of standing firm for God’s honor. Yet in the midst of this chaos, Moses stood as a faithful intercessor, praying for the sinful people and even willing to sacrifice his life for them. This story reveals both the gravity of sin and the greatness of divine mercy. It reminds us that true spiritual leadership requires humility, courage, and selfless love—qualities that find their perfect image in Christ.
🌍 Adventist News Network – September 5, 2025: Adventists in Argentina Deliver Relief Kits After Storm & More News
Adventist News Network – September 5, 2025: Adventists in Argentina Deliver Relief Kits After Storm & More News |
This week on ANN: |
· After a severe storm in Argentina, Adventist food company employees deliver relief kits; in Bulgaria, a Pathfinder Club marks 30 years in the mountains; in Egypt, a youth camp builds leaders through sports and music; and in Romania, ADRA distributes 5,000 backpacks to curb school dropout.
· Stay tuned as ANN brings everything you have to know about what is happening in the church worldwide.
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