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God Honors the Humble, August 22
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 14:11
.
God honors those who humble themselves before Him. Moses, dis-
heartened by the discontent and murmuring of the people he was leading
into the land of promise, pleaded with God for the assurance of His pres-
ence.... And the Lord said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will
give thee rest” (
Exodus 33:14
).
Encouraged by the assurance of God’s presence, Moses drew still
nearer, and ventured to ask for still further blessings. “I beseech thee,”
he said, “shew me thy glory” (
verse 18
). Think you that God reproved
Moses for his presumption? No, indeed. Moses did not make this request
from idle curiosity. He had an object in view. He saw that in his own
strength he could not do the work of God acceptably. He knew that if
he could obtain a clear view of the glory of God, he would be enabled
to go forward in his important mission, not in his own strength, but in
the strength of the Lord God Almighty. His whole soul was drawn out
after God; he longed to know more of Him, that he might feel the divine
presence near in every emergency or perplexity. It was not selfishness that
led Moses to ask for a sight of the glory of God. His only object was a
desire better to honor his Maker.
God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, and He understood
the motives that prompted the request of His faithful servant.... “And the
Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God,
merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth”
(
Exodus 34:6
).
Moses had genuine humility, and the Lord honored him by showing
him His glory. Even so will He honor all who will serve Him, as did
Moses, with a perfect heart. He does not require His servants to work
in their own strength. He will impart His wisdom to those who have a
humble and contrite spirit. The righteousness of Christ will go before
them, and the glory of the Lord will be their rereward. Nothing in this
world can harm those who are thus honored by a close connection with
God. The earth may shake, the pillars of the world may tremble under
them, but they need not fear.
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