May 4, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

He Meets Us Here and Now

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Opening Prayer

King of Kings, I celebrate You today. Your favor, love, and wonder-working power amaze me. I praise You!

Read Exodus 33:7-23

For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.

[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 his tent. [11] The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. [12] Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ [13] If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” [14] The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” [15] Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. [16] How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” [17] And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” [18] Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” [19] And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [20] But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” [21] Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. [22] When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. [23] Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Reflect

“Jehovah-Shammah is the Hebrew word meaning ‘the overflowing ever-present One.’ This name is the promise of a holy God dwelling in the midst of his people” (Larry Lea).

God’s presence is very precious. That God would not guarantee to lead these sinful people directly (3,15) was ultimately an even more devastating punishment for their apostasy than selective death or plague or the later loss of a whole generation’s hopes (Num. 14:20-23). “Why pray for safety on the roads,” someone asked me recently, “if God doesn’t always choose to protect us from our own or another’s folly?” The answer: prayer builds our relationship with this great God, and knowing him is more valuable than anything else!

The meeting tent (7) was outside the camp and accessible to Moses alone. It symbolized the people’s initial dependence on Moses for their interface with God. This intimacy is illustrated by the descending pillar of cloud which the people could only watch and marvel at. In contrast, when the tabernacle came, it was in the midst of the people and all would be invited to participate in preparing it and reverently enter all except the Holy of Holies.

Because of Jesus we have unfettered access to the majestic high God, yet we can neither presume on, nor take lightly, this privilege. If he treated us according to our sins we would be consumed and his presence would be more than we could bear (Heb. 12:29). Even Moses was granted only a careful rear view (23). Writer Annie Dillard has suggested that we take too lightly our approach to God in worship: “Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? … [W]e should all be wearing crash helmets.” It’s as if the ceremonies and liturgies given to us to celebrate God are clefts in the rock protecting us from the full light of his presence. But we value that presence. It is all we have.

Apply

God comes among us. We are accepted in Christ. Savor this unlikely but breathtaking relationship with him and with one another. Praise God for it.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, I go into this day with the assurance that You will never leave me or forsake me. May I be aware of Your presence every moment.

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