Welcome

The Reverend Dr. Samuel T. Powers
Boston Avenue Methodist Church
Exodus 33: 12-23

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this
people,” but you have not let me know whom you will send with
me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also
found favor in my sight.” Now if I have found favor in your sight,
please show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor
in your sight. Consider, too, that this nation is your people.’ He
said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he
said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not bring us up from
here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your
sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we
shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face
of the earth.’
The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will also do this thing that you have
asked, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by
name.’ Moses said, ‘Please show me your glory.’ And he said, ‘I
will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim
before you the name, “The Lord,” and I will be gracious to whom I
will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one shall see me and
live.’ And the Lord continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where
you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put
you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I
have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see
my back, but my face shall not be seen.’”

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