Glory Revealed by Nicole Byrum

I am a therapist and writer who is passionate about family, faith, and recovery. I am the author of Remade: Living Free, a book that explores topics related to substance abuse, recovery, and unhealthy relationships from a biblical perspective.

Although I will forever be a “summer girl,” I have to admit- fall is pretty great! My runner’s heart was thrilled when the morning temperature dipped below 50 degrees a few days ago. I was almost giddy to run in shorts, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and gloves. This is the attire that signifies perfect running weather!

Autumn is also a time of beauty in the Midwest. Although the trees haven’t turned on their brilliant colored leaves just yet, this Ohio born girl finds the yet-to-be harvested fields of wheat, beans, and corn a pretty spectacular sight. The sunrises and sunsets are also magnificent this time of year. And there is just something about that crisp fall feeling that fills my heart with joy.

As I prepared to leave the office Monday evening, I gathered my things and prayed a quick prayer, asking God to show me His glory on my forty-minute westward drive home. Exiting the building, I breathed in the cool, fresh air. A beautiful fall night. It was just after 7:00 pm and although still light outside, the sun would soon set. About 30 seconds into the drive, my eyes were immediately drawn to the perfectly round reddish-orange glowing ball of light in the sky. It was so gorgeous and so of colors. On the contrary, the cloudy sky made the sun’s brilliance even more stunning. I smiled and thanked God for putting His glory on display. As the drive continued I began thinking about how amazing the sun is and how God created this world so perfectly! I can’t even wrap my mind around the sun. And that’s only one small aspect of His creation! Truly, the glory of God caused my heart to worship Him. And isn’t worship to be our response to His glory? To be sure, I felt loved upon seeing that beautiful sun so quickly after my prayer, and I thanked God for His kindness. And while the beauty displayed in the sky that night was a gift, it was a gift that was there so that my worship would glorify Him.

John Piper, a renowned author and pastor, defined glory as “the radiance of the worth and beauty and greatness of God Himself.” God’s glory is what our hearts should hunger and thirst after, what we should crave more than anything else. If anyone can vouch for this, it would be Moses. In Exodus 24, God confirmed His covenant with Israel by revealing Himself and His glory to Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel on Mount Sinai. In verse 10, we are given this description: “There was under His feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.” Later in verse 16 Moses alone ascends to the top of the mountain where “the glory of the Lord dwelt.” The next verse describes what the Israelites beheld of this glory: “Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain.”

After such an indescribable experience, one might think this would forever satisfy Moses. But it doesn’t! A glimpse of God’s glory always leaves us with a desire for more. A few chapters later Moses said to God, “Please show me your glory.” Why? Because he wanted more! Moses had experienced a taste of it, and now he yearned for a full revelation. God graciously agreed and placed Moses in the cleft of a rock. While in that designated place, God passed by, allowing Moses to see His back (Exodus 33:22-23)

The Bible does not tell us, but I wonder how Moses responded to this unprecedented event! I can only imagine that he fell to his knees in awe and wonder as he worshipped his amazing God. After being with God for 40 days and nights, Moses descended the mountain with a full heart and a shining face. In fact, the people of Israel could not be in his presence without Moses veiling his face. Such was the reflection of the glory of God in the face of Moses!

I love that Moses asked God to reveal His glory. It’s not something I have typically prayed for, and the prayer I prayed the other night was seemingly random. But trust me, I will now pray for God to show me His glory regularly so that my heart may be inclined to worship Him even more. As the great theologian, Jonathan Edwards, said, “God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it.”

May it be so with us. May the posture of our hearts be ever bent in reverent worship as we see more and more of God’s glory revealed. And may we take delight in His glory above all else, remembering that the chief end of our lives is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Psalm 42:1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Photop by Karen Ruhl

Photo by Karen Ruhl