And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “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.” (Exodus 33:17-20 NIV)

My family and I watch YouTube videos instead of television, and while YouTube has many benefits, there are still commercials and advertisements. One advertisement we frequently get is for a dietary supplement. They always tell the viewer about the “vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced ingredients” and to take this supplement daily.

The key part of any dietary supplement is that it enhances the performance of the consumer’s body, through a stronger immune system, a healthier gut, or simply making sure the consumer receives enough vitamins. Supplements are not made to satisfy hunger but, rather, are taken when the consumer is already ingesting a meal. Supplements also help the consumer’s body regulate itself when it may encounter a day or two of unhealthy eating so that nothing gets “out of whack.”

Maybe you go to church every Sunday, read your Bible daily, pray often, and have a good relationship with God - what is there to be hungry for? In this week’s passage, Moses may have felt the same way. He has an incredible relationship with God, and in verse 17, God even tells Moses He is pleased with him. Still, Moses hungers for more of God: that He would be with him and guide His people. God promises His presence will always be with them, even if they can’t directly see Him (vs. 20). 

This reminds me of the supplements mentioned above. You take them every day and know they are there. Yet, you don’t see the vitamins as they are being absorbed into your body and enhancing its performance. Some things in our spiritual walk are like a daily supplement, something we know is there and don’t always see, like God’s presence or the Holy Spirit within us, but something we want just a little bit more of. For Moses, his spiritual supplement was asking God to go with them and to show them His glory. Moses was already full, because of his relationship with God, but he wanted to add more to his spiritual walk - a supplement if you will!

What spiritual supplements could you ask to be reminded of while you are eating your spiritual meal (i.e. praying, reading your Bible, etc.)? Maybe it’s more of God’s peace or joy or comfort, or maybe like Moses, you may ask to be reminded simply of His presence in your life.