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People can know of God.
Or, people can know about God.
Or, people can know God.
Moses--over time--experienced all three stages.
Moses, initially, knew of God. He--like all Israel of his day--was likely polytheistic, knowing more of the gods of Egypt than the God of his ancestors. God introduced himself to Moses from within the flames of the burning bush: "I AM the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). God called Moses to return to Egypt and to lead Israel from their captivity.
Moses questioned God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God told Moses to answer Israel, "I AM who I AM...I AM has sent me to you" (vv. 13-14). As he walked from the bush, Moses--at the tender age of eighty--knew God's name, but not much else. Moses knew of God.
Moses, later, came to know about God...Within months after the incident at the burning bush, God led Israel out of Eqypt, across the Red Sea, to Mount Sinai. Moses ascended the mountain and received the tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments. As he made his way down from the summit, Moses was horrified to see Israel worshiping a golden calf. Israel had broken covenant with God before the proverbial ink had dried. He assumed the worst and took it upon himself to "tear up the contract"; he smashed the tablets of stone against the mountain.
Fast forward through the story. As it turns out, Moses didn't know much about God when he presumed to break the covenant with Israel on God's behalf. God is going to create fresh copies of the Decalogue and confirm the covenant with Israel. But first, he schools Moses in the character of the God of the covenant: "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished..." (Exodus 34:6-7). Moses was beginning to know about God.
Moses ultimately came to know God. For the next forty years Moses led Israel--from the holy mount of God, to the border of Canaan, and through their time in the wilderness. He essentially filled the dual roles--often lonely and polarizing roles--of priest on behalf of the people and prophet on behalf of God. Through trial and triumph, Moses grew not merely to know of God or to know about God; rather, He came to know God. This deep knowing is expressive of so much more than intellectual recognition and appreciation; it testifies to intimate relationship. It was this depth of knowing that Jesus spoke of in John 17:3:
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
At the end of Israel's pilgrimage in the wilderness, Moses handed the baton of leadership to his lieutenant, Joshua. Moses climbed Mount Nebo and surveyed its beautiful vistas of the land of promise. Moses breathed his last and was tenderly buried by God himself in an unmarked grave in a valley of Moab. In what might fittingly be called Moses' eulogy, scripture testifies, "the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Deuteronomy 33:11). Moses had come to know God.
People can know of God.
Or, people can know about God.
Or, people can know God.
I can occasionally observe and intuit the person and thoughts of others without hearing their voice. To a degree. I can know of them. I can know about them. But to know them, I must be able to hear their voice, the testimony of their own spirit. The Apostle Paul said of God, "For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). What is your relationship with the Spirit-inspired words of scripture?
When we read about God, we read for information. When we read from God, we read for transformation. What do your habits of reading suggest about your intent? Not everyone who reads for information about God will experience transformation; not everyone who seeks transformation reads for information about God. What's the learning?
As you come to know God, and if you pay attention and remain curious, you will recognize his imprint and his voice everywhere. Can you offer some personal examples?
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