On
the morning of the third day there
were
thunders and lightnings and a thick
cloud
on the mountain and a very loud
trumpet
blast, so that all the people in
the
camp trembled. Then Moses brought
the
people out of the camp to meet God,
and
they took their stand at the foot of
the
mountain. Exodus 19:16-17
My imagination takes me to some wild
places and often vividly displays scenes that one can only…well…imagine.
Although I do not consider myself crazy (some may disagree) I do see and hear
people who aren’t really there as they walk through the joys and tragedies of
life. Of course I write it all down hoping one day to have a best seller. But
the scene described in chapter nineteen of Exodus takes me to the edge of my
ability to imagine.
About seven weeks after the exodus from
Egypt, Israel camped at Mount Sinai fulfilling God’s burning bush promise to Moses. (Exodus 3:12) They knew God was coming. Moses
explained God’s instructions to consecrate themselves and to wash their
garments and be ready; on the third day the LORD was coming down on Mount Sinai
for all the people to see.
God came in a thick cloud with a trumpet
blast; descending in fire and smoke and “the whole mountain trembled greatly.”
(Verse 18) All the people trembled! The LORD came down to the top of the
mountain and called Moses to come up—grace extended. In Exodus 34:29 we find that
Moses, after another encounter with the living God, had to cover his face with
a veil.
The presence of the Holy
Almighty radiated from the face of Moses. Can you even imagine? God showed up,
Moses went up the mountain, and all the people knew that Moses had been with
God.
I have never seen a glowing face. Have
you? Unlike the Israelites who had to watch from a distance, as children of God
you and I have the authority to meet with God—one on one! To come boldly before
His throne of grace! I then have to ask myself, “Why is my face not glowing?”
The Grace to meet God is extended to all
who believe.
©JP
2013
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