When you hear the term "the glory of God," it's easy to default to the big, showy types of displays. You might think of miracles and healings, or you might think about the times that God's presence manifested itself in the Old Testament, such as pillars of fire, whirlwinds, earthquakes, floods, etc.
Moses was someone who had seen all of those things. Despite that, he still asked God to see His glory, which ought to tell us that God's glory is more than just a display of His power. We find that God's glory is God's very nature and personality revealed without anything between us.
It might seem like an odd choice for a Christmas-time discussion. Still, the apostle, John, chose to accurately and poetically describe Jesus' birth this way, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14)." God poured all of Himself into human form as Jesus, the Son. His character reveals the glory of God, and it's not powerful, showy, or flashy. He chose to come as a lowly, humble baby to a pair of no-name people full of grace and truth.
That is the paradoxical glory of Christmas. The fullness of God's glory in a vulnerable child Who came to save the world. The King of kings arrived for you and me without earthly pomp or grandeur because He loved the world so very much.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
