Exodus 33
1Then the LORD said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of
Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land that I promised with an oath to give to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give that land to your
descendants.’ 2I will send an angel to lead you, and I will force these people out
of the land: the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
3Go up to a fertile land. But I will not go with you, because I might destroy you
on the way, since you are such a stubborn people.”
4When the people heard this bad news, they became very sad, and none of
them put on jewelry. 5This was because the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the
Israelites, ‘You are a stubborn people. If I were to go with you even for a
moment, I would destroy you. So take off all your jewelry, and I will decide what
to do with you.’” 6So the people of Israel took off their jewelry at Mount Sinai.
The Meeting Tent
7Moses used to take a tent and set it up a long way outside the camp; he
called it the “Meeting Tent.” Anyone who wanted to ask the LORD about
something would go to the Meeting Tent outside the camp. 8Whenever Moses
went out to the Tent, all the people would rise and stand at the entrances of their
tents, watching him until he entered the Meeting Tent. 9When Moses went into
the Tent, the pillar of cloud would always come down and stay at the entrance of
the Tent while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10Whenever the people saw the
pillar of cloud at the entrance of the Tent, they stood and worshiped, each person
at the entrance of his own tent.
11The LORD spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend.
Then Moses would return to the camp, but Moses’ young helper, Joshua son of
Nun, did not leave the Tent.
12Moses said to the LORD, “You have told me to lead these people, but you
did not say whom you would send with me. You have said to me, ‘I know you
very well, and I am pleased with you.’ 13If I have truly pleased you, show me
your plans so that I may know you and continue to please you. Remember that
this nation is your people.”
14The LORD answered, “I myself will go with you, and I will give you
victory.”
15Then Moses said to him, “If you yourself don’t go with us, then don’t send
us away from this place. 16If you don’t go with us, no one will know that you are
pleased with me and with your people. These people and I will be no different
from any other people on earth.”
17Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will do what you ask, because I know you
very well, and I am pleased with you.”
Moses Sees God’s Glory
18Then Moses said, “Now, please show me your glory.”
19The LORD answered, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you,
and I will announce my name, the LORD, so you can hear it. I will show
kindness to anyone to whom I want to show kindness, and I will show mercy to
anyone to whom I want to show mercy. 20But you cannot see my face, because no
one can see me and live.
21“There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22When my glory
passes that place, I will put you in a large crack in the rock and cover you with
my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take away my hand and you will
see my back. But my face must not be seen.”
The Holy Bible, New Century Version
SITUATION
God wrote the Ten Commandments, gave them to Moses, and revealed his glory to Moses. Because Moses took so long to come down from the mountain, the people grew weary and built a new god for themselves, made of gold.
OBSERVATION
We will never be able to see all of God's glory on this earth.
INSPIRATION
Read carefully, very carefully, the following verses. Read to answer this question-what did Moses do in order to see God?
''There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes that place. I will put you in a large crack in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back. But my face must not be seen" (Exodus 33:21-23).
Did you see what Moses was to do? Neither did I. Did you note who did the work? So did I.
God did! God is active. God gave Moses a place to stand. God placed Moses in the crevice. God covered Moses with his hand. God passed by. And God revealed himself…
All Moses did was ask. But, oh, how he asked. All we can do is ask. But, oh, we must ask. For only in asking do we receive. And only in seeking do we find.
And (need I make the application?) God is the one who will equip us for our eternal moment in the Son. Hasn't he given us a rock, the Lord Jesus? Hasn't he given us a cleft, his grace? And hasn't he covered us with his hand, his pierced hand? (From When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado)
APPLICATION
Do you know someone who rebels against God? Classmates? Colleagues? Neighbors? Intercede on behalf of these people today. Ask God to reveal himself to them and bring them into a relationship with him.
EXPLORATION
God's Judgment - Exodus 22:24; Numbers 16:21; Deuteronomy 9:19-20; 1 Samuel 2:25; Psalm 106:23; Jeremiah 14:20-21.
No comments:
Post a Comment