Exodus 33:12

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.'

Exodus 33:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 33:12

And Moses said unto the Lord
Having returned from the camp to the tabernacle again;

see, thou sayest unto me, bring up this people:
from hence to the land of Canaan, as in ( Exodus 33:1 )

and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me;
to guide and direct him, help and assist him, protect and defend him, and the people with him; he had signified something of this kind, but by some expressions, and by his present conduct, he was at a loss to know who was to go with him: he had told him that the uncreated Angel, in whom his name and he himself were, should go with them; but now it had been declared that he would not go up in the midst of them himself, but send an angel, a created one, but who that was he knew not; he thought he had reason to expect the pillar of the cloud and fire by day and night; but that had had so many motions that he could not be assured of the continuance of it:

yet thou hast said, I know thee by name;
have a particular and special knowledge of thee, and distinguished thee from others, and have a personal affection for thee:

and thou hast also found grace in my sight:
had an interest in his special favour and good will, was acceptable unto him, had received an abundance of spiritual grace, and many very extraordinary gifts from him, and had had many benefits bestowed on him, which were proofs of his being grateful and well pleasing to him.

Exodus 33:12 In-Context

10 And all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door; and all the people rose up and worshiped, every man in his tent door.

11 And the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he returned again into the camp; but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

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.'

13 Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight; and consider that this nation is Thy people."

14 And He said, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."