February 10, 2012 … Glimpses of Glory

Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Exodus, Chapters 33-35 … To study these chapters, go to this link -

Exodus 33: 7-11: … [Yahweh Meets With Moses] … 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
==========
Exodus EXODUS 34:33-35 … : … [God’s Glory Revealed on Moses’ Face] … 33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

My Journal for Today: Reading through Exodus, Chapters 33-35 in my daily chronological reading plan, a scenario involving God’s revealed glory to Moses struck me; and I chose (with God’s help I believe) two highlight passages (see above) which reflect this very personal relationship God had with His friend and chosen leader, Moses.

Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t seem to reveal Himself so personally and dramatically to us in these times as He did back with Moses in the era I’m reading/reporting on today? These encounters Moses had with God are called “theophanies;” and like several other Old Testament chosen ones, Moses had several of these (for example in the burning bush or in these scenarios reported above). And it was so apparent to the people that Moses had this special relationship with God; … so apparent that Moses’ face glowed with the radiance of God and even had to be covered with a veil.

But why Moses and not Bill Berry – or you? Why doesn’t God reveal Himself in some angelic or creational form as He did for Moses or Abraham or Daniel in the Old Testament [as we read above in Exod. 33: 11 or to Abraham in Gen. 18: 1-11 or to Daniel in Dan. 3: 25] ?

Well, … I believe there are two angles to answer that question.

The first is that God doesn’t need to be so dramatic in intervening - Himself - with mankind in this New Testament or New Covenant era because He has revealed Himself to man in a once-and-for-all incarnation in the form of His Son, Jesus, The Christ (read about that in Phil. 2: 6-11). AND, we also have God’s written story (i.e., HIStory), the Bible, where God, Himself, is revealed in the pages of Scripture [see 2nd Tim. 3: 16-17]; and God doesn’t need to travel in physical, revealed theophanies appearing as He did with His people when He was establishing His relationship with His chosen people, the original Jewish children. We – you and I – can simply go and have a revelational encounter with the living God everyday – if we so choose, as I have this morning – in and through His word. And though you may not see the glory of the LORD shining on Bill Berry’s face as God’s glory shone on Moses’ face, prayerfully you do see God’s glory shining – at least a little bit – in what I’m writing here … or maybe in the way I’m so compulsively addicted to pursuing my relationship through God’s word daily. Surely you don’t think that I’d be here, so obsessively – on a daily basis – NATURALLY; … do you? My friend, anything you read in these blogs or see in the way I live which reflects the character of God IS NOT NATURAL. It’s not Bill Berry! It’s a God thing!!!

And my second way of answering my rhetorical question (in bold above) is that we do have glimpses of God’s glory in our lives; and sometimes He shows himself pretty clearly in the events of life to us; or sometimes these signs of the living God are more subtle. Have you ever had something happen to you that simply could not be explained naturally or in terms of human reality? Well, I sure have. >>> Many of you have heard or read my testimony of how God used the number 13 in my life to reveal Himself to me … so clearly that I could not deny Him. If you’re reading this and you don’t know that story, email me (at … willieb13@rocketmail.com ); and I’ll be glad to tell you about it. But I’ve had other times where God just showed up – in wonderful ways – to remind me of His presence or His power; and I call these “glimpses of glory.” And if you know God as your personal LORD and Savior, I’d bet you have a story or two of such glimpses of God’s reality in your life.

So, our faces as Christians may not shine forth as did the face of Moses as he intervened with/for God in Exodus; but if you have a deepening relationship with God, wrought through your discipleship and devotional life with God in pursuit of the LORD through His word, in prayer, and in time spent with Him daily, it’s going to show in your life … the decisions you make, … the peace of your waiting on God, … and your power in spiritual warfare daily. That my friend is giving you – and others – a glimpse of God’s glory in/through your life. And it is the working out of the truth we read in passages like ... Josh. 1: 8, Prov. 3: 5-6, Psalm 119: 9-11, Ephesians 2: 10, 1st Cor. 10: 13, and of course, Jesus’ spoken word in Matt. 5: 16 and Luke 9: 23. And, … when others see these truths shining forth in your life, they get a glimpse of God’s glory and they can see Him – and not the reality of your humanity – in and through the proclamations, choices, and actions of your life.

Oh, … that is my prayer this morning for all of us.

My Prayer Today: … Lord, reveal Yourself to us in Your word; and then shine brightly as we reflect these glimpses of Your glory in and through our lives. Amen