I KNOW THEE BY NAME

" And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name."  (Exodus 33:17)

Moses had been pleading with the Lord, asking Him to personally go with Him as he led the people to Canaan. God had told him to bring the people to Canaan, promising He would send an angel before them to drive out the inhabitants of the land (33:1-2). However, Moses would be leading a stiff-necked people, who could provoke God to destroy them "in a moment" (33:5). Therefore, He commanded the people to strip themselves of their ornaments, that no sign of glory of pride might exist among them (33:5b-6). Later, not content to lead the people in anticipation of an angel driving out Canaan's inhabitants, Moses pled with the Lord, "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." The Lord then promised, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest". The man of God responded as one who thirsted for God: "If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence" (33:13-15). Moses continued to plead with the Lord, saying there was no other way others would know God was with this people if He did not go up with them, protecting them and delivering them from their enemies. Thus, Moses reasoned, he and the Israelites would be separated, or distinguished, from all other people. It was then that the Lord responded with our text, declaring He would do what Moses said because He knew him by name.
In this text, the Israelites were pledged Divine protection and accompaniment because of  Moses. It was he who had "found grace" in the sight of the Lord, not the Israelites. Moses awakened in God the desire to show mercy – even upon those who were stiff-necked and continually provoked Him to anger. God said He knew Moses "by name." That is, His association with Moses was not a formality. He did not bless Moses for the sake of Abraham, as He did Israel. Rather, He spoke with Moses "face to face," divulging the details of His will, spending extended periods of time with Him, and employing him to carry out His will. The phrase "I know you by name" is like saying, "You are my intimate friend." NAB He was not just one of a group, but could stand before the Lord himself, commune with the Lord, and behold His glory for himself. That is how personal our acquaintance with the Lord can be. That relationship reaches its apex in Christ, who "calls His own sheep by name and leads them out" John 10:3).