Speaking of Locking Eyes With God...

Some of the most interesting stories in the bible have to do with ordinary humans being allowed to converse directly with God. One Old Testament figure who had God's ear was Moses. 

Yeah, the murderer/stutterer/reluctant leader through whom God dished out awful plagues on the Egyptians. All so that the Israelites would break free of their chains, after eons of slavery. 

Because he was pleased with Moses, God granted Moses's demand to "Show me your glory!"

God's reply: "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

Yowza! That part always gives me goosebumps!

Then the Lord said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

I think I love this passage, in particular, because God is suggesting that He pretty much has the same body parts as you and me: hands, face, legs that walk, even a backside. 

His words of commonality help me to "see" Him as more than a hazy, hovering vapor, or blinding sunray. I like that. Because the times I really need to feel His love, it helps to picture His loving arms encircling me in a bear hug.  ;-)

*Taken from Exodus 33