Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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might not despair if he should be long absent. But, because he intended speedily to return to the tabernacle of the congregation, he left Joshua there, for it was not fit that the place should be empty, so long as the cloud of glory stood at the door (Ex 33:9); but, if God had any thing to say out of that cloud while Moses was absent, Joshua was there, ready to hear it.
12 And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring
up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
How he pleads.
(1.) He insists upon the commission God had given him to bring up this people, Ex 33:12. This he begins with: "Lord, it is thou thyself that employest me; and wilt thou not own me? I am in the way of my duty; and shall I not have thy presence with me in that way?" Whom God calls out to any service he will be sure to furnish with necessary assistances. "Now, Lord, thou hast ordered me a great work, and yet left me at a loss how to go about it, and to through with it."
Note, Those that sincerely design and endeavour to do their duty may in faith beg of God direction and strength for the doing of it.
(2.) He improves the interest he himself had with God, and pleads God's gracious expressions of kindness to him: Thou hast said, I know thee by name, as a particular friend and confidant, and thou hast also found grace in my sight, above any other. Now, therefore, says Moses, if it be indeed so, that I have found grace in thy sight, show me the way, Ex 33:13. What favour God had expressed to the people they had forfeited the benefit of, there was no insisting upon that; and therefore Moses lays the stress of his plea upon what God