Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18) …
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and passed in front of Moses, calling out,
“The Lord! The Lord!
The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.” (Exodus 34:5-6, NIV)

This passage from Exodus about God’s “glory” makes me think of the scene in the Disney movie, “Aladdin” (1992) where the big blue genie describes himself as having “phenomenal cosmic powers.” (I heard you say that in a deep, booming voice.)

The genie’s self-description aptly depicts the way that “glory” is communicated throughout history, and even in our present-day sports, entertainment, financial, business and political contexts.

However, the almighty God—the creator of the universe, the beginning and the end, the perfect, transcendent, all-powerful one—expresses and “shows” Moses (and you and me) His glory in a very different and surprising way.

God’s glory is that He is: compassionate, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in love, ever-faithful, and forgiving to a thousand generations.

If you think that sounds a lot like Jesus, the one who was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world, it’s because it is. God’s glory is Jesus, and Jesus loves you and me!

“Wow.” (I heard you say that in a hushed, grateful, amazed voice.)

(Hebrews 1:3, John 3:16, John 14:9, Matthew 11:29)