Stretched across the width of our backyard is a large tree limb that hangs parallel to the ground. Looking at the enormous branch you cannot help but wonder what is holding it up. I love this branch and live with a dread for the day that it will finally break from the tree and fall to the ground. Each winter, during major ice storms, as the ice begins to build up and weight the limb down I spring into action. I attempt to shake the ice off with little success then I proceed to prop the heavy limb up in order to relieve the pressure on the tree. It is too high off the ground for a long board so I usually end up using an extension ladder stretched out as far as possible. Since the ladder has no support and is usually propped up against a wall for use, I am forced to get creative. In the end the ladder is pushing up the limb with a variety of support on the ground securing the ladder. For the many days that the ice remains I stand at the window hoping my creation works, it is my only hope. I always know that one strong wind, or an out of control sledding child, could easily and quickly move the ladder from its post causing the limb to come crashing to the ground. I stand at the window placing all my hope in my extension ladder which is attempting to do something that it had no preparation or training to do.
The people that Moses led were a “stiff necked people” as defined by God. They had been quick to complain, they had been swift to disobey, and they had been easily swayed away from God. The people also were smart enough to understand why God felt this way. They were unappreciative, they were ungrateful, they were un-easy to lead and tolerate. They recognized the way they had been, they knew the wondering of their hearts, they saw why God was fed up. They had no hope, except for the hope that God provided through Moses. As a group, the people placed their hope in Moses. They were quiet when he was meeting with God, and they listened when he reported what God had said. They had not always been this way but they were for now...it was their only chance, Moses was their only hope.
Daily Readings
Monday, November 7, 2011 Exodus 33:7-11
The story of the Amanda Knox murder case that took place in Italy was one that held the attention of Americans and people around the world. In the end everyone that had any direct connection to the case sat for most of a day and waited for the court officials to return a verdict. Those that supported Amanda sat hopeful in, and around, the court building that the guilty verdict would be reversed. Those that felt Knox was guilty hoped for a affirmation of the original verdict. Everyone sat reverently and waited, everyone sat still and hoped. In the end, Knox was declared innocent and soon released from prison and returned home.
As Moses would enter the tent of meeting, the people would wait reverently and hopeful. They were reverent because the knew that Moses was meeting with God. They were hopeful because they knew that Moses was speaking with God on their behalf. Although they were a people with many faults who consistently made many mistakes, they knew their future and their hope rested with God and the outcome of these face to face meetings. They knew that their only chance was this intercession conducted by Moses with God. We live in a post tent meeting, post trial verdict time. We live face to face with God because our intercessor, Christ, has gone for us, before God. The danger of this standing in this position, as we do, is that we can forget the need for reverence and hope. We forget to stand quiet and still before God. As Moses would leave the tent, he left Joshua there so that God would never be left alone or ignored. How do you stand before God?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 Exodus 33:12-16
On a family trip to Disney World, when our son Isaiah was about 7 years old, he walked off at a very busy Epcot and ended up separated from us. We were terrified and when we finally found him he was equally frightened. The next morning, after he was dressed, I turned him around, lifted up his shirt, and with a permanent marker wrote our names and phone numbers. I was going to make sure that he was identified as an “Anthony” and how to get in touch with me immediately. I did not want anyone to misidentify him.
Moses desired that the children of God would be identifiable. He wanted everyone to know that this people belonged to God. He wanted everyone to know that this people followed the one true God. He wanted everyone to know that this people were chosen by God. He wanted the world to know that these people were distinct. How does the world know to whom you belong, how does the world know that you are distinct?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 Exodus 33:17-23
When our kids were younger we would frequently eat at a restaurant located in downtown Norman near the railroad tracks. They loved this, not so much because of the food, but because we would always see at least one or two trains go by outside while we were eating. The kids would jump up and run to the door begging to go outside and see the train. If weather permitted, we would let them go out to get a closer view, but only on the condition that they stay with us and hold our hands. This was for their protection, there was a limit to how far they could go, a limit on how close they could get to the speeding trains. They would usually tug at our hands to get closer and we would always prevail in holding them back for their own safety.
Moses becomes very bold in his requests before God asking to see God’s glory. This was out of a sincere desire on Moses’ part but God knew what Moses could handle, and permitted him to only see His goodness. This was all that Moses needed to see and it was all that Moses could handle. God knew that there would be a day, in eternity, that Moses would get to see and would be able to handle seeing God’s glory. God gives what is needed and withholds that which can hurt or harm.
Thursday, November 10 2011 Exodus 34:1-9
I once spoke with a gentleman who was very frustrated with and by his life. For many years he had not been able to keep a job in his chosen field, he had little support from his extended family, and his immediate family was not all that he had imagined. As we visited I noticed that everything that could be suggested to him, by me or that had been recommended by others, was quickly rejected for an array of reasons. He wanted all the solutions, as defined by him, but he had no desire to do the work or to make the sacrifice. He was not willing to accept anything other than his exact plan without any personal sacrifice. He left frustrated.
As Moses returns to God, to receive a second copy of the commandments we see him ready to do the work. God instructs Moses how to approach and how to carve the new tablets. His is willing to do the work and to make the sacrifice. This attitude is reflected when he is before God and the utterance of his lips is pure praise. What is your attitude in regard to God’s work in and through you, are you willing to make the sacrifices required?
Friday, November 11, 2011 Exodus 33:12-35
When I was in high school, we always knew who had gone skiing during spring break. When we returned to school after the break, those who had been skiing would be wearing their ski parkas with the ski lift tickets still attached to the zipper. The funny thing was that we seldom needed to have the parkas or tickets because their faces always were always obvious proclamations. Their faces looked like raccoons. They had sunburns on the bottom part of their face and no burn around their eyes due to the ski goggles. Their faces shone in such a way that it was impossible to miss the fact that they had been on the slopes.
When Moses came down from talking to God it was obvious where he had been. His face had a shine that was so intense the people had to look away from him. He eventually had to wear a veil because the shine on his face was so strong. Can you imagine having such an obvious statement about your walk with God that could be seen by everyone?
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