Scripture

And while my glory passeth by, I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with mine hand while I pass by.

~Exodus 33:22, Geneva Bible

Quote

The grace of God is beautiful; it radiates joy and awakens humor.

~Karl Barth

Exodus 33 is an exciting chapter. It tells us a lot about how personal and intimate the relationship was between God and Moses. The first tent moses erected to meet with the LORD was outside the camp. The Tabernacle will come later and be at the center of the camp. This first tent was where Moses went to pray and while he was meeting with God, the shekinah glory cloud would hover over the tent. The Israelites found this fascinating and they would stand at the door of their tents and observe.

One day Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ 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. And remember that this nation is your very own people.” Then Moses added a further request in verse 18, “Show me Your glory.” The LORD told Moses, “You can’t see me face to face, no man can see my face and live but I will hide you in the crevice of the rock that your standing on and I will cover you with My hand as I pass by. Then I will remove My hand and you can see my back but My face will not be seen.“

When I read this the other day, I thought of Fanny Crosby’s immortal hymn He Hideth My Soul..

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He’s hiding my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord;
He carries my burdens away,
He’s holding me up, and I shall not be moved;
He’s giving me strength day by day.

With numberless blessings each moment he crowns
And fills with his fullness divine;
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer is mine.

When clothed in his brightness, transported I rise
To meet him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, his wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high.

He’s hiding my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He’s hiding my life in the depths of his love
And cov’ring me there with his hand,
And cov’ring me there with his hand.

After spending time with the LORD, Moses wore a veil so that the people could not see the glory fade. Paul said the Jews as a whole wear a different kind of veil, one that keeps them from seeing the glory that is in Christ. Those who us who have been born again have had the veil removed. He says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Extra

This is a day we never dreamed of and one can never be fully prepared for. Christy was young, in her fifties with three young grand children and I think Hannah is only 21 which is very young to lose your mother. Christy was a school teacher. After she retired from Brewer, she went back to work at Randolph in Huntsville. I think she taught math. She also worked part time for some accounting firm duing income tax season. She was our church treasurer for more than five years. Traditionally in rural churches, treasurers can be a pain to a pastor but Christy was never a pain. I couldn’t ask for anyone to be more accommodating. John Donne’s poem, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, says it best for me…

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

What lies before me today is not a job or a task, it is a calling. I am not observing their grief, I am grieving with them. This is the time all my dear friends pray for me and I covet the prayers. I am too old and feeble minded to do this on my own: I need your help. May the blessed and all wise Holy Spirit guide me today and speak through me. This is my prayer.