Blog

 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran” Acts 7:2

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4:6

The Lord keeps taking me back in my study, and in my heart to 3, 458 years ago when Moses was on the mountain with God (at least three times that we know of).  I personally think that Exodus 24 and Exodus 33 are two of the most powerful chapters in the life of Moses, and in the book of Exodus.

In chapter 24 Moses and 74 others ate and drank with the God of Israel.  And there was under His feet a sidewalk of sapphire; but yet it was as clear as the sky itself!! Go figure.  Sapphire is the color of blue, and this is also the color of Christ’s throne according to Ezekiel and John.  So how can a blue sidewalk be clear?  I don’t know…how can a street of pure gold be as transparent glass (Rev. 21:21)?  I think in our finite minds and our limited thinking ability this is a very difficult thing to grasp – but in the Spirit it is actually a very simple thing to grasp, and to see.  Everything with God is in its purest form.  Gold is transparent in its spiritual substance, and sapphire is clear in its spiritual substance.  The Holy Spirit said that the light and the darkness are alike to Him.

Everything concerning Christ is pure and holy.  The 75 men ate and drank with Christ on the mountain (for no man can see God the Father and live – Ex. 33:20).  They beheld the glory of God (Christ) and they beheld natural elements in their spiritual form.  Hebrews 1:3 says; “He (Christ) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. “ Hebrews 1:3 ESV

So then, who appeared to Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia? Christ.  Who appeared to Jacob? Christ.  Who appeared to Moses? Christ.  Who appeared to Joshua? Christ.  Who appeared to the three in the raging fire? Christ.  Who appeared to Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, and many others in the Old Testament? Christ.

Christ is the sum of all things in the Old Testament and in the New Testament!! So then when these men saw the glory of God…what were they actually seeing according to our 2 Cor. 4:6 verse mentioned above?  They were seeing Christ.  Can you see that in your heart?

In Exodus 33, Moses said to the Lord, “Please show me Your glory.”  Oh man, how I love that prayer.  There is just something about it that draws the deepest heart of God right out of me!!  Moses had already seen His glory, (and it was a Person) on the side of a mountain that he did eat and drink with along with 74 others.  But please take careful note of the divine response to his prayer: “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.” Who is the “goodness” of God? Christ.  Who’s name is God going to proclaim before Moses?  The name of Christ.  Christ was, and is, and shall forever be the exact embodiment of the Father.  Do you want to behold the Father?  Look at Christ.  How?  In his word and in your heart (and in that order). 

Philip said to Jesus once, “Lord, show us the Father…” And the Lord replies to him, “Philip, have I been with you for so long now that you do not know me?” My friends, that was the Father speaking to Philip through Christ…”Oh Philip, have I (the Father) been with you so long now and yet have you still not understood who I am, or recognized Me?”

When Moses asked to see His glory; notice what else God said to Him: “Behold, there is a place by Me {the Hebrew actually reads: “with Me”}, and you shall stand there on the rock.” [we all understand that Christ is the rock – see  Psalms and 1 Cor. 10:4]. “and it will come about while My glory is passing by (but please remember that one verse earlier God said that He would cause all His goodness to pass before Moses.  So which is it…His goodness or His glory? They are one and the same!! The goodness of God is Christ…”It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance.” And the glory of God is Christ. Listen to John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory [WHOSE GLORY??], the glory of the only begotten from the Father.” THE GLORY OF GOD IS CHRIST!!) that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.”  A few things of note here: 1 Cor. 1:3 states that God has put us in Christ, so then this event with Moses is a type and shadow of God hiding (putting) Moses in Christ.  And secondly, please notice that God is going to cover Moses, and not just Moses’ eyes.  Interesting that the Lord said that.  He is going to completely cover (surround and protect as with a shield) Moses as He passes by in all of His glory.

I think more happened that day on the mountain than anyone has seen or written about.  Moses truly encountered Christ and He wanted to see Christ again. Moses understood that Christ was the glory of God.  I must say it again: Jesus Christ IS the glory of God.  In that day when you behold the glory of God, you will be beholding Christ. Jesus said that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and that he saw it.  He did?  When?  In Hebron…remember?

Also found in Exodus 33 is another prayer of Moses that coincides with two different verses from Psalms and Jeremiah.  Exodus 33:13 reads, “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thy sight, show me now your way, that I may know you, that I may find grace in your sight.” Moses prayed here that the Lord would show him His way.  Why? So that Moses might really know Him.  And Psalms 103:7 says, “He made known His ways to Moses.” And then let’s follow up with Jeremiah 9:24, which says, “But let him that glories glory in this: that he understands Me and knows Me…”

Brethren, God wants us to know Him and His ways.  This is what really matters.  He reveals Himself only to those who desire Him more than anything else in this life.  Those who love His Son and the words of His Son, He will honor and esteem and will show Himself mighty in their behalf.  Because the word says that those who know their God shall do mighty exploits in the earth.  Do you really know Him?  You only know Him as much as you know His word.  Your relationship with God is only as deep as your relationship with His word.

If you want to live and to walk in the glory, then you will have to live and walk in His word.  They go hand-in-hand.  They are inseparable.  And you have to believe His word, and you have to abide in his word.  I encourage everyone to look up the word “liar” in 1^st John and see just who he (the Holy Spirit actually) is calling a liar.  You might be surprised. 

Friends, Jesus is everything to the Father, and he should be everything to us.  And if He’s not, it’s only because we are spiritually sick and in need of deep help; which can only come from Him.  This man Jesus was everything to these men.  They had no qualms (never gave it a second thought) about denying themselves and saying no to sin, self, satan, and the world.  They gave everything for Him. They gave it all.  They could see the finish because they could see Him who was unseen.

Dear reader, can you see Him who is unseen today?  Isaiah called Him “The God who hides Himself.” There is a reason He hides Himself.  The main one being He only wants those who can believe Him and His word to be able to see Him.  We all remember what He told doubting Thomas in the upper room after His resurrection.  Can you also believe without seeing?  Then you will be blessed.

Friends, the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not.  I have news for you today…there are many among our own ranks whose minds are blinded.  Why?  Because they believe not.  Let us be of those who believe…because only the ones who believe will enter in to the promise land.

 

See you on the front lines.