John Calvin Commentary Exodus 33:18

"And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory." — Exodus 33:18 (ASV)

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. Until this point, the desires of Moses had been confined within the limits of moderation and sobriety. But now he is carried beyond proper bounds and longs for more than is lawful or beneficial, for it is clear from his rejection that he had thoughtlessly proceeded further than he should have.

He desired that God should be revealed to him more closely and in a more manifest form than before. Still, it was not foolish curiosity that drove him to this—the kind that so often intrigues people's minds, leading them to daringly attempt to penetrate into the deepest secrets of heaven. For he had no other purpose than to be encouraged to confidence, so that he might more cheerfully continue with his responsibility.

But that the desire itself was improper, even though its objective was correct, we learn from God's reply, in which He shows that it would be harmful and fatal to Moses if he were to obtain what he sought as a great privilege.³⁷⁰

How, then, will it be with us, if the vanity of our nature tempts us to investigate God’s glory more deeply than is proper? Therefore, let this passage act as a restraint upon us, to suppress the speculations that are too wild and unrestrained within us when we desire to know what God has chosen to keep hidden from us.

This is the rule of sound, legitimate, and beneficial knowledge: to be content with the measure of revelation and willingly to remain ignorant of what is deeper than this. We must indeed advance in acquiring divine instruction, but we must keep to the path in such a way as to follow God's guidance.

³⁷⁰ This interrogative sentence is entirely omitted in Fr.