Readings for today: Exodus 33-36
My greatest desire as a pastor is for the people I serve to come to know and love and serve Christ. It’s often the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. It’s often the last thing I think about when I go to bed in the evening. My heart breaks when I see those I love wander from the faith. My heart sings when I see those same wanderers come back home. There’s nothing better than praying with someone to accept Christ. There’s nothing worse than having that person later tell you they’ve abandoned their faith. Being given a front row seat to the spiritual growth of an individual is the greatest privilege of my life. Sitting in that same seat and watching someone slowly let their relationship with Christ grow cold is my greatest sorrow. So I can sympathize with Moses. I get the challenge he faces as a leader for God’s people. And I understand his heartfelt request to see God’s glory. It’s often been my prayer as well.
The importance of these chapters in the Book of Exodus cannot be overstated. God is renewing His commitment to Israel. He is revealing more of Himself to His people. He gives them His name. He shares with them His divine nature and character. He makes His plan known to them. Despite their sin. Despite their rebellion. He has determined to be their God. He has determined to do something miraculous in and through them that will stun the nations of the earth. He will drive out their enemies. He will secure for them a homeland. He will do for them what has not been done for any other people. For they are set apart. Come hell or high water, they are His chosen ones. I feel the same way about the church I serve. No matter how far we fall. No matter how often we fail. God will never stop being our God and we will never stop being His people.
This is again why I love Moses’ question. Sometimes leaders need their own hearts renewed. Sometimes leaders need their own doubts answered. Their own fears addressed. Their own anxieties eased. Like Moses, I often wonder if I am the right man for the job. I often wonder if I am making any difference at all in my work. I often wonder if I have what it takes to lead the church I serve into the future God has planned for her. So I find myself asking God frequently to show me His glory. Reveal to me where He is at work. Give me the eyes to see what the Spirit is doing so I can find the hope and the strength to keep leading and serving those I love.
“The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.” (Ex. 34:5-8)
From this point forward, whenever Israel is in trouble. Whenever Israel falls into sin. Whenever Israel suffers. Whenever they are oppressed and in need. They call on the “name of the Lord” and are delivered. They call on the “name of the Lord” knowing with full assurance that the Lord’s name is mercy. Grace. Steadfast love. Faithfulness. They call on Him knowing He is slow to anger and keeps his steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love Him in return. They call on Him knowing He is just and will be no means give the guilty a pass. They call on Him, trusting Him to be true to Himself. True to how He revealed Himself to Moses. True to what He has declared about Himself. Over and over again, we will see these verses referenced throughout the Old Testament. Every time the people of God call on the “name of the Lord” to be saved, they are looking back to this particular meeting where God showed Himself to Moses.
Friends, God has given us an even greater gift! He has revealed Himself to us in all His glory! In Jesus Christ, “we have seen His glory” (John 1:14) for He is the “radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature…” (Hebrews 1:3) Every time we find ourselves in trouble. Every time we fall into sin. Whenever we suffer or endure hardship or pain. Whenever we are oppressed or in need. We too can call on the “name of the Lord!” The Name that is above all other names! We too can look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith! We know He is merciful and gracious. We know He is slow to anger and full of steadfast love. We know He is just and will by no means give the guilty a pass. In fact, He dies in order to deliver all of us from the penalty of our sin! Thanks be God! Be encouraged, friends! Lift up your hearts to the Lord! Look to Him and find your hope and strength renewed today!
Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 37-40