His ways or His deeds?

Photo by Pablo Garcia Saldana

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel. Psalm 103:7 NIV

Two things are revealed here. That God can reveal Himself through His ways or through His deeds.

Different translations use different words for deeds, some say “His acts” others “His doings” others say “His works”. But we are told, to Moses He made known His ways.

There is a difference between God’s ways and His deeds. NLT says he revealed his character to Moses… we can say that God’s ways are His character. By showing Moses His ways, he let Moses know Him.

AMP says He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses… again we see that these are attributes of who God is, His character.

So Moses didn’t just know all the good things that God could do for him, he knew God. While the Israelites never got to know who God was but only knew his deeds. They weren’t interested in the “God of the blessing” as they were interested in the “blessing”. So when they got the blessings they never made an effort to get to know God. But Moses did.

How do we know His ways?

We pursue His presence more than His presents.

And 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 with me, do not bring us up from here. Exodus 33:14-15

Moses was clear he wanted God’s presence more than anything else. He didn’t want the promised land without God’s presence. God had said to them he will send an angel before them to the promised land.9 Exodus 33:1

I’m sure the Israelites had no problem with that. They would have been happy if God could send an angel and his blessings with them. but Moses had such a value for God’s presence that he would have forfeited the promised land if it meant having it without God.

Are we more concerned about God’s presents than we are about His presence? Are we pursuing the blessings more than the blesser? Could we be happy to have what we are asking God for without Him?

God will often give us what we have asked for because He knows we will go no farther with Him without it.

Moses was desperate to know His ways.

Now therefore if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order that I might find favor in your sight. Exodus 33: 13

He wanted to know God’s ways and to find favor; Moses knew that favor comes through knowing Him.

But for the Israelites theirs was a manipulation game, when they lacked food in the desert, they threatened to go back to Egypt. When water didn’t come quick enough they threatened to return to Egypt. They tied God’s hands with their desires and missed out on knowing him. They were contented for God to get them out of their discomfort and hardship.

We learn His will.

His will is His way. If we would choose to know His will and do it, God will make sure that everything we need is provided for. Jesus Knew God’s ways. Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. John 4:34 Doing what God wants becomes our sustenance. It’s not just about knowing Him, it’s about knowing what He wants done and how He wants it done and doing it. Jesus knew this. And so did Moses.

We have to move from servants to friends to know Him.

Someone famously said, “God has many workers but few lovers.” Lovers and friends know His ways, servants only know His deeds. Moses was God’s friend. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11 Moses was first God’s servant, but he went deeper into friendship with God. we know His ways when we go beyond being mere servants for God.

Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from my father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 Servants don’t understand His deeds only friends do, because they know His character.

We press on to know Him.

We have to move beyond asking God for stuff to a place of seeking after Him with all our hearts. We have to make a choice whether He gives me what I want or not, I will still choose to seek and get to know Him. So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] LORD [To honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. Hosea 6:3 AMP

God doesn’t want us to just know His deeds or just know Him by the blessing He gives He wants us to know His ways like Moses did. May you be acquainted with His ways.