Scripture for today:
Exodus 32:1-33:23
Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 8:33-36
The passage of Scripture I read from Exodus today recounts the story of when the people of Israel turned away from God, and went to Aaron to ask him to make them a god they could adore. Aaron did as they asked, and created the gold calf. God, of course, was infuriated and planned to destroy them, but Moses was able to convince Him to reconsider, so Moses descended the mountain to find the people reveling and worshiping the calf. His response was to break the stone tablets of the Covenant, and to burn the calf of gold to dust and threw it into the water and forced the people to drink it. Then, he asked whoever was on the Lord's side to come stand next to him, and the Levites went. He then told them to kill everyone else for their great sin, and they did as they were told. The Scripture continues to speak of the great repentance the people felt, and how Moses would meet with the Lord in the "Meeting Tent" outside their camp, and how the Lord would speak with him "face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11). I can't even imagine what that must've been like, speaking to the Lord face to face, hearing His voice, and being able to seek His counsel, and for Him to audibly answer.
At one point, Moses is meeting with the Lord, and he tells Him, "If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor..." (Exodus 33:13). The Lord lets Moses know that He will do as he has asked, and that he will accompany him and the Israelites personally to their destination. He says, "I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name" (Exodus 33:17). How amazing is it that God knows ALL of us by name??? However, the story continues as follows: "Moses responded, 'Then show me your GLORIOUS presence.' The Lord replied, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name Yahweh, before you.... The Lord continued 'Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by'" (Exodus 33:17-19a,21-22). The Lord tells Moses that no one may look upon His face and live, so He reveals His glory to Moses, while still protecting him. How amazing that our Father would choose to protect us mere sinners, stubborn people who defy Him constantly and who so easily forget the mercy He has showered upon us.
The Lord had a plan for Moses from the beginning, and He has a plan for each and every one of us. That amazes me. Moses was able to speak to the Lord, as a friend, face to face (without really seeing Him). And, he was also able to see the Lord manifested in full glory. I can't imagine how beautiful that must have been. The Lord allowed this to happen, He already had it in His plans. Another portion of Scripture from the readings today says: "For the Word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does" (Psalm 33:4). "The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken" (Psalm 33:10-11). The Lord has a plan for us, and we need to trust Him to do what is best. Sometimes we might not understand, and we might even question, but in the end, He knows what we need, and He knows what is right, "we can trust EVERYTHING He does". Even if the world around us says differently, and even questions the existence of our God, we need to trust Him, as Moses did.
My prayer today is that the Lord will help me place my trust entirely in Him, to help me hold fast to His promises, and to continue to read His Word and seek His guidance. I also pray that I may have the boldness of Moses, to ask Him to reveal Himself to me whenever I need to see and feel His presence in my life, and when I find myself in doubt. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
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