“…and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will REWARD you openly.” Matthew 6:6
What is the great reward of the Christian, the disciple of Christ, the child of God the Father? Perhaps we find great clarity, and the answer in the Old Testament, when God was instructing Moses, and Moses was praying to God. Moses had already witnessed the mighty works of God when the Lord brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. He had seen the cloud that led them by the day, and the fiery pillar which led them by night. God had used Moses to give to the people the Tabernacle in the wilderness, that distinctive place of meeting for all believers who would seek God. He had been used to give to the people the ten commandments, thus, he had communed with God in the reception of them. Moses had been instrumental in leading the people and judging between them. In all of this, he knew very real communion with God. There would come a day however, when Moses reveals that which is supremely upon his heart before God, and God knew it. Moses prayed a very specific prayer concerning two things that he had come to realize were the means of receiving the “reward” of God. This prayer would not be limited to him, for the contents of it apply to every believer today. We see it fulfilled in the New Testament in the times, and ministry of the Lord Jesus, to be one day fully realized in heaven. What was this prayer that would lead to such blessing?
On the occasion of coming to understand who was to be Moses’ successor, and only God could reveal this to him, for he did not dare lean unto his own understanding, he prayed to God: “Now therefore, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me Now your way, that I may know You, and that I may find grace in Your sight.” (Exodus 33:13) In the sphere of the will, purpose, and calling of Moses, there was the possibility for Moses, upon praying specifically to know God’s WAY in it all, that he would come to know Christ better, and more fully. The knowledge of the way, and will of God, which God alone could reveal to him, would be essential if he was to know God more in a greater manner. Moses sought supremely the knowledge of God in truth, revealed to Him by the Spirit. The promise of God to Moses in answer to his prayer was specifically: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (or peace).” (33:14)
But there was a second prayer, which reveals to us another aspect of this REWARD of which the Lord Jesus spoke, and by which could be known in answer to prayer. After receiving the assurance given by God according to His promises, Moses would take great liberty, and boldly ask the Lord: “Please, show me Your glory.” (v.18) It seems almost audacious for even such a man as Moses to ask the Eternal God for such a thing. But the matter pleased God, and God responded to him by saying: “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.”(v.19) With Moses having been placed in the cleft of the rock, and with God’s protective hand placed over him, the Lord would pass before him, and declare: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression for sin, by no means clearing the guilty…” (34:6,7). In answer to Moses’ prayer, God revealed Himself according to the truth, and by the power, and proximity of His presence. Moses’ reward was the wonderful knowledge of Christ.
God has given every believer, “…the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Eph. 1:17)
Dear Father, Reveal Yourself to our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.