It seems
lately that my life experiences remind me of the "thunder and flashes of lightening
and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking" - the terrifying
events that caused the people to fear and tremble and stand far off from God.
(Exodus 20:18-21 ESV) But, as Moses explained to the people, God has come to
test me; that I would recognize who He is, to know He is God, to see His heart
and to tremble at the thought of giving in to temptation and running after
idols rather than remaining under His mighty right hand - yes, that same hand
that disciplines is the hand He has promised to use to strengthen and uphold
me; (Isaiah 41:10) The hand that extends His Holy justice, yet demonstrates His
glorious Grace. God wants to have a relationship with me, to share His heart
with me. Yet, as with Moses, the place He often chooses to share His intimate
thoughts with me is a "thick darkness".
Will I draw close to Him? Even in the darkness (the tests; the life events)? Will I linger in His presence as Moses did and let Him share with me those truths from His word that He desires for me to grasp because He knows they will set me free? Or will I fear the darkness and receive those precious insights ONLY by reading and/or listening to someone else share what they have learned as THEY drew near and lingered in His presence? The people heard through Moses and agreed to obey - yet, only 40 days later they worshiped idols as they danced around the golden calf. But Moses, who drew near and lingered with God, who personally received God's truth, developed a heart and passion to see more of Him - to see His glory and to not move one step without assurance that God would be with him (Exodus 33)
May I have eyes to see God in the "thick darkness" and the courage to draw near to that darkness as Moses did - embracing it, even counting it all joy, as the means that He has chosen to reveal to me His intimate truths about His sovereignty and unfailing love. The same truths that will dispel the fear and the dismay of the darkness as He strengthen and help me by His power and grace. The same truths that confirm His goodness. The same truths that will cause me to fall more in love with Him in and through His word until I, like Moses, have only one desire - to see His glory and to follow hard after Him wherever, whenever and with whomever for His glory.
Will I draw close to Him? Even in the darkness (the tests; the life events)? Will I linger in His presence as Moses did and let Him share with me those truths from His word that He desires for me to grasp because He knows they will set me free? Or will I fear the darkness and receive those precious insights ONLY by reading and/or listening to someone else share what they have learned as THEY drew near and lingered in His presence? The people heard through Moses and agreed to obey - yet, only 40 days later they worshiped idols as they danced around the golden calf. But Moses, who drew near and lingered with God, who personally received God's truth, developed a heart and passion to see more of Him - to see His glory and to not move one step without assurance that God would be with him (Exodus 33)
May I have eyes to see God in the "thick darkness" and the courage to draw near to that darkness as Moses did - embracing it, even counting it all joy, as the means that He has chosen to reveal to me His intimate truths about His sovereignty and unfailing love. The same truths that will dispel the fear and the dismay of the darkness as He strengthen and help me by His power and grace. The same truths that confirm His goodness. The same truths that will cause me to fall more in love with Him in and through His word until I, like Moses, have only one desire - to see His glory and to follow hard after Him wherever, whenever and with whomever for His glory.
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