Exodus 33:17 (NLT) The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”

Have you ever met a well-known speaker or pastor and had the opportunity to speak with them for a bit? It felt good that they took the time to talk to you. Then you see him again a couple of months later and as you approach him, he greets you by name because he remembered who you were. If you have ever had that experience, you know that for some reason, that feels really good. When someone who, in your eyes, is important remembers your name, you feel special. Well what about if that person was God? Moses had that awesome experience where God not only knew his name, but made sure to tell Moses that He knew him by name.

Of course, God's knows everyone's name because He is God and being God, He is omniscient. That means that He knows everything. But it's one thing to knowsomeone's name and another thing to know someone "by name." Knowing someone by name implies a close relationship. Moses had a very close relationship with God. He had that close relationship because He sought after it. While everyone else was busy living their lives and complaining about their lot in life, Moses was in the Tent of Meeting communing with God and getting instructions for all the people. He spent so much time in the presence of God that the Bible says that his face was radiant from having spent that time before the glory of God. God considered Moses His friend (Exodus 33:11) and He would somehow speak to him face to face. The Lord must have had to do something supernatural to do that because the Bible also says that no one can see God's face and live (Exodus 33:20). That means that God took the time to manifest Himself in a way that He could speak to Moses in close proximity and not have Moses' die from the glorious experience. God spoke to Moses as one speaks to a friend and the reason that He did was that Moses was a willing vessel. In other words, God was more important to him than anything or anyone else.

I want God to know me by name. How about you? If you want God to know you by name, do what the Word of God says that you should do: love Him with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength and seek Him with all of your heart. If you do that, you, too, will be a friend of God who He knows by name. Just think for a moment of the Creator of the entire universe, the God who holds all things together, knowing you so intimately that He not only knows you by name, but also knows your deepest thoughts, longings and emotions and cares deeply about it all. Make sure that God knows you by name by making Him number one in your heart.

Pastor Joey Vazquez