Guided By God

At times, God functions in an unusual, unexpected manner. Following God often is not comfortably predictable!

When all the preparation for the tabernacle and its furnishings were completed, the tabernacle was erected and began to function as the site of Israel's sacrificial worship. Exodus 40:34-38 declares that "the cloud" covered the tabernacle and the glory of the Lord filled it. The cloud's covering and God's glory were so intense that not even Moses could enter the tabernacle at that time.

This seems to be the same cloud that guided Israel from Egypt (Exodus 13:21, 22); that separated the Egyptian army from the Israelites (Exodus 14:19, 20); and that provided guidence for Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 9:15-23). It was a visible reminder of God's presence (Exodus 33:9, 10; 40:38).

It was this cloud over the tabernacle that provided the nation of Israel guidence throughout their wilderness journey. When the cloud lifted from the tabernacle, Israel was to break camp and follow the cloud to a new location. When the cloud remained in place over the tabernacle, Israel was to remain camped at that location.

What a strange, unusual way to provide guidence! Not through a person's oracle, not through a prophet's message, not through a priest, but through the movements of a cloud!

The person who never searches for God never sees His work and manifestation. The person who searches for God is aware of His hand everywhere. God never has been restricted to one mode of expression.

Perhaps that is one of the wondrous things about Jesus Christ. In his earthly ministery, Jesus spoke for God in many ways--compassion, mercy, kindness, unselfishness, patience, helpfulness to the unworthy, a life that illustrated his message.

Every expression of God points to Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3; Luke 2:25-38). All expressions of Jesus Christ point to God (John 14:6). Human faith in the fullness of its expressions shown in a life surrendered to God as revealed through Jesus Christ is the avenue to God--not human achievements and accomplishments. The purpose of obedience is to express gratitude for God's blessings in Jesus Christ. The purpose of obedience has never been placing God in debt to humans so humans can attempt to manipulate Him!

When obedience is anything less or more than an expression of gratitude declared in a "Thank you" to God who blesses us immeasurably through Jesus Christ, it is the futile attempt for humans to become their own god!

Faith in God follows the ways and values of God even when guidence is provided by a cloud.

Does Closeness To God Terrify Or Encourage You?

Moses had a unique relationship with God. That relationship was demonstrated when God spoke to Moses. As noted in a previous snippet, God spoke to Moses "face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11). A typical practice was for Moses to go to a tent to speak with God. A cloud [the presence of God] visibly descended to the entrance of the tent. The Israelites saw that situation and worshipped God from their tents. Moses went to the tent on such occasions to talk with God (Exodus 33:7-10). Obviously, Moses approached God and spoke to Him as no other Israelite could.

However, there was a consequence to Moses being in God's immediate presence. The skin on Moses' face shined after such encounters. Initially, when God gave Moses commandments for him to deliver to the Israelites (see Exodus 20:19), Moses spoke to Israel without an awareness that his face was shining. The result: Israelites were afraid of Moses when his face shined--including priests! These people, including Aaron [Moses' brother and spokesman], initially did not wish to be close to Moses (read Exodus 34: 29-35).

Thus, Moses developed the practice of wearing a veil after delivering God's commands to the sons of Israel through Aaron. As he walked and lived among the Israelites in their camp, he had no desire for them to be afraid of him!

Paul used Moses' shining face to illustrate a first century problem at Corinth [and likely much more widespread than that one place] in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18. The basic problem: first century Israelites were unable to see God's intent and purposes in Jesus. There was much confrontation even in the church of the first century that focused on this debate.

When it is a person's objective to come to God, to spend a lifetime getting closer and closer to God, that journey changes the person. While the person may not even be aware of the changes, those changes are quite obvious to those who know him or her.

Closeness to God changes a man or a woman! How? It changes the focus of his or her life. Things that were important become increasingly unimportant until those things fade completely out of his or her focus. If materialism was important, it becomes unimportant. If greed was important, it becomes unimportant. If the self-centered pursuit of fun was important, it becomes unimportant. In fact, all forms of selfishness fade into insignificance.

Why? God is not materialistic, greedy, pleasure centered, or selfish. Those things in no way declare God's character or nature! Thus as a person moves closer to God, he or she moves further from those things. In the analogy of a world with no kerosene or "modern" forms of power that could be transformed into light, those are the things of "darkness." God is the purity and holiness of "absolute light" (see 1 John 1:5). The man or woman who pursues such things is headed away from God! If closeness to God is his or her interest, he or she is going in the wrong direction!

Personal values change in the man or woman who wishes to be close God. The purpose of an individual's life is viewed differently. The objectives of time and ability are seen through a new understanding. Commonly what those who have a distant relationship with God regard to be sacrifice is seen by one close to God as opportunity. The person who belongs to God defines individual purpose quite differently when compared to the person who does not seek God.

Being close to God makes an obvious difference! That difference may not be evident to the one who reflects God's influence in his or her life! Yet, it is evident to those who have no relationship with God or seek only a shallow relationship with God.

Do not be afraid to seek God with your whole self! Do not fear God's influnence on your life! God's influence brings out the best in people!

What Is God's Character And Nature?

The character and nature of God always has figured prominently in the religious concepts and religious expectations of people. That still has religious prominence to this day. One does not listen long to religious broadcasts and declarations before he or she is told "what God wants" based on a presentation of God's nature or character.

We may be told God "wants" us to have health. Or, we may be told that God "wants" us to have wealth. Or, we may be told that God "wants" our dreams to become reality--we just need to dream bigger and to trust God more!

Having lived among people outside of the United States of America, I am impressed with this fact: Many lessons/sermons shared in this country would never be shared among the common people in other societies or countries. Christianity is not and has never been the export of material expectations. Christianity shares a Savior who owned nothing and died as a sacifice.

We Americans have material options that are not available to the common person in many socieities of other nations. It is a serious mistake to link spirituality in Christ with the materialistic expectations or desires of people! Genuine spirituality is about rightfully honoring God for Who He is, not about us achieving our material expectations.

Moses had many encounters with God [the burning bush--Exodus 3:1-4:23; the comission-- Exodus 4:22-31; the encounters with Pharoah at God's direction--Exodus 5:1-11; the Red Sea incident--Exodus 14:5-31; etc.] God spoke to Moses as to no one else (Exodus 32:11). Only Moses went into the tent when the cloud of God's presence covered that tent.

Though Moses had spoken to and heard from God directly many times, Moses never actually saw God. After Moses pled with God to be among the Israelites [after Israel's enormous insult to God], God agreed to comply with Moses' request because of God's respect for Moses (Exodus 33:17). Moses, because of God's respect for him, won two enormous concessions from God: God would not destroy Israel for their insult (Exodus 32:9-14); God would continue to be present with Israel as they traveled (Exodus 33:17).

Moses made one more request at this time: "Let me see You!" (Exodus 33:18-23). God said, "That is not possible--if you looked upon Me, My holiness would kill you." Even the best of people whom God respects have [has] evil in them. God has no evil in him. Humanity's unholiness at its best cannot look directly at God's holiness. Those touched by evil cannot look at Him in Whom evil is completely absent.

Moses asked for something impossible--even for God! If Moses was to continue as God's agent in leading Israel to Canaan, he [as a human] could not look upon God. Moses could behold God's glory by seeing where He passed, but not look directly on God.

When God passed, God described Himself: "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (also translated faithfulness); who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives inquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the inquity of the fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

What an unusual, unhuman-like description! It is a blending of mercy and justice in equal proportions. God is compassionate and filled with grace. He overflows with mercy. He keeps His promises. All because that is His nature [not His debt!].

Out of His nature flows a slowness to anger [it takes terrible offenses to make God angry] and forgiveness. Yet, for those who refuse to take responsibility for their failures through the redirection of repentance, God in justice will not forget their offenses. The influence of the unrepentant has long arms that touch those the unrepentant would love the most--long after they die.

When the holy God passed, Moses was not impressed with himself or his righteousness. He was impressed with the holiness of God. Moses bowed to the earth and worshipped God (Exodus 34:8). Does that not remind you of Isaiah's initial encounter with God's presence in Isaiah 6:5?

"Woe is me, for I am ruined,
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

Consider an irony: the closer "good" people get to God, the more impressed they are with the evil in them. Human "goodness" is woeful when contrasted to God's purity and holiness. He or she who has been close to God's presence never places faith in self or in any human act he or she performed or performs. Nothing human compares to the compassionate, merciful God.

The Power Of The Pleas Of The Righteous

The ability of wicked humans to anger God cannot be exaggerated. The ability of righteous humans to plea with God cannot be exaggerated. The plea of one righteous person can be more significant to God than the evil deeds of many wicked persons.

When Israel insulted God by attributing to their golden calf their deliverance from Egypt and their divine guidance, they insulted God's kindness and compassion. God patently let them complain. God kindly let them doubt. God compassionately let them gripe. God did this to allow Israel to form an understanding of Who He is and experience His graciousness toward them. From Exodus 11 to Exodus 32, Israel had access to the understanding produced through experiences that should have resulted in profound appreciation for God. Yet, their experiences produced zero appreciation for God's kindness, patience, and mercy! Instead of being grateful toward God, they insulted Him!

The impact of Israel's deed on the kind God is evident in Exodus 32:9, 10. (1) "I now accept these people for who they are--an obstinate people! Nothing I do for them will change who they are!" (2) "I am a God Who angers slowly (Exodus 34:6), but they have made Me extremely angy! Moses, leave Me alone, and let Me be angry at them! They deserve My anger!" (3) "I will destroy them and start over with you to fulfill My promise to Abraham."

Please note something. The righteous Moses did not plead with God on the basis of the deservedness of Israel--there was no deservedness! The righteous Moses pled with God on the basis of God's character. (1) You have been extraordinarily patient with these people up to this moment. Do not cease being patient with them now! (2) Why should the Egyptians misrepresent You now? The Egyptians will not fault the rebelliousness of the people--they will not even recognize the reality of the people's rebelliousness! The Egyptians will blame You! They will say You had an evil intent from the beginning. They will misrepresent You by saying You brought them out here for the purpose of killing them. They will say you wanted to eliminate Israelites from the face of the earth! (3) Because You are Who You are, abandon Your anger and change Your mind about doing these Israelites harm. (4) Focus on Your promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel [see Genesis 35:10]. Think about Your promise, and not these people's insult.

God listened to Moses! God accepted the plea of a righteous human and changed His mind and intent!

Later Moses approached God again. Moses did not minimize the people's sin. He loved God and these people so much that this righteous man asked God to forgive the great sin of the people or take his name out of the book God wrote. God refused Moses request. God said, (1) The person who is guilty of sin will be removed from My book." (2) "If I am near these people I will destroy them!" (3) "The time will come when they will receive the full consequence of their rebellion!"

Moses through faith cultivated a unique relationship with God. He and God spoke face to face as friends (see Exodus 33:11). God did not speak to Moses in visions or through messengers. He spoke to Moses directly as friends speak.

In this incident we see two extraordinary realities. First, we see the power of the plea of a righteous person. Almost 2000 years later, James wrote, "The effective prayer (literally, supplication) of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16). Never underestimate the power of being a righteous man or woman!

Second, we see what an exceptional thing God did for the man or woman who dares to be Christian. In Hebrews 4:14-16 are found these statements, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

For the man or woman in Christ, forgiveness at their weakest moment is assured because of God's mercy and grace. In Christ, we have access to the throne of grace. Do you have the courage to be a person of righteousness?

Turning Loose Of The Past Is Not Easy Or Simple

God did a lot for Israel as He rescued them from their Egyptian slavery. The ten incredible acts of God in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the preservation in the desert wilderness [water, food, protection from enemy attacks], the journey to Mount Sinai, and God's voice declaring in their hearing [and understanding] the ten commandments were powerful evidences. Evidences of what? (1) Evidences of the existence of the living God who made promises to Abraham, and (2) proof that the living God could and would care for and provide for them.

Some of the deepest hurts that human beings endure in life are the wounds produced when kindness is repaid with an insult. Even God is deeply distressed when those who receive His kindnesses respond with an insult.

Israel insulted God! Though God used Moses as His agent in communication or in expressing His actions [Moses stretched out the rod to divide the Red Sea, but God without the agency of Moses placed the manna on the ground for Israel to gather], Israel looked upon Moses as the source of power, not the agent of God. People bond with people much more easily than they bond with God! Too often people rather follow a charismatic person then a deserving, mysterious God!

After God gave the ten commandments, Moses spent over a month on Mount Sinai receiving instructions from God for Israel. The people of Israel grew restless--they were in the middle of nowhere in a harsh environment and their charismatic leader was gone! Israel's solution: "Come, make us a god who will go before us . . ." To them after all of God's revelations of Himself, divine leadership could be produced by (1) a human made object that (2) was dependent on humans to receive personal care.

Why? They reverted to the Egyptian concept of deity! For more than a generation these people were accustomed to a concept of deity that depended on (1) human made objects (2) whose power was dependent on humans. They were more comfortable with a former concept than a new reality! Even if the new reality provided them incredible blessings, they were still more comfortable with a former concept!

They approached Aaron, Moses' brother and spokesman. They asked him to make them this god who would provide their leadership. Aaron commanded them to bring him the gold jewlery worn by the wives and children (remember Exodus 12:35, 36?). From this gold, Aaron fashioned a golden calf with a graving tool.

Think about it! "Our" gold made "our" god which "we" acknowledge because "we" are in control. Often people would rather control their deity than be controled by their diety. There is a lot of difference between, "God would not want me to do that!" and "Speak, Lord, because Your servant is listening!"

The golden calf was presented to Israel with the words, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." With Aaron's blessings, an altar was built before the golden calf and a religious feast proclaimed to honor this idol the next day.

When Moses returned to the Israelite camp, he saw a people out of control (Exodus 32:25). These people were honoring the golden calf in the manner in keeping with their experiences in idolatrous Egypt (Exodus 32:19).

The same verse declares that Moses' anger burned. No one knew more perfectly the debt these people owed the living God than did Moses! No one better understood that Israel's returning to a pagan concept of deity was an insult to the living God who delivered Israel!

In any age, if a person is to follow the living God two things are essential. (1) He or she who would follow God must change his or her concept of deity. (2) He or she who would follow God must constantly guard against returning to the familiar past.

We must follow God, not make a god!