God showed His ways to Moses, and His acts to Israel (psalm 103:7). For Moses, it was not enough to see God's acts. Moses had seen God's power in miraculous ways. Even the fact that he survived a face to face meeting with Pharaoh is amazing. Why did Pharaoh not have Moses killed immediately?
After 10 terrible plagues, Moses led Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness. Israel took Egypt's wealth and livestock. Egypt's army was destroyed in the Red Sea. Israel was protected by God's mighty power. Yet still the people complained.
Moses soon realised that he was unable to lead the nation freed from slavery. He knew God already, speaking with God in the tent of meeting. So he did the only sensible thing. He sought God for more. His experience to that time was not enough. So he asked God to reveal His ways.
God graciously obliged. You can read this in Exodus 33 & 34.
Many believers have only book knowledge of God. It is not enough, especially in this age of confusion, doubt, unbelief and increasing hostility to the true church. Lord Jesus defined eternal life as this: "Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." John 17:3 As an aside, those who are waiting until death to receive eternal life are going to be disappointed. Eternal life is "Now", not at the end of our days on earth.
It took me many years to realise that God wanted me to know Him. I was like a feral cat, mistrusting, independent, and suspicious. Even after I was born again, it took time to shed those wrong attitudes. Now I know God and I know that He wants everyone to know Him.
How do we get to know God better? It takes time. It takes communication. Moses spoke to God and God spoke to Moses. Everyone in Israel could have done the same. But they had the wrong kind of fear that held them back. God's promise is this:
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:8
"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22
Does it matter? Yes. We live in perilous times. "With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him." Daniel 11:32. While the literal Antichrist has yet to appear, the spirit of Antichrist abounds. Knowing God is they key to discernment and strength to resist.
Yes, we must know God. But the real question is: How does Scripture say we know Him?
Jesus answered this clearly.
And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ.(John 17:3, ASV)
But Jesus did not stop there. He showed that knowing Him is proven by obedience.
If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. (John 14:15, ASV)
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. (John 14:21, ASV)
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10, ASV)
Jesus also warned that many people would call Him "Lord" and even do mighty works in His name, yet He would reject them because they practiced lawlessness.
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23, ASV)
Notice the connection. They claimed to know Christ, but Christ said He never knew them because they did not obey God.
The disciple John taught the same truth:
And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3-4, ASV)
So yes, we should draw near to God, pray, and seek Him every day. But according to Jesus and His disciples, truly knowing God is not only about having knowledge or experiences. It is seen in a life of repentance, faith, obedience, and keeping His commandments. That is the evidence that we truly know Him.