March 13, 2024 | Be God's Light
The Tent of Meeting
Scripture: Exodus 33(NIV)
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.
7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
Devotional
As Moses was struggling to figure out how to lead the stubborn and rebellious Israelites, he needed time alone. Actually, he needed time alone with God. Where do you go when you need to be with the Lord? Do you have a particular time of day that you best hear from God? Do you go someplace special in your house, at a church, or maybe in nature that you connect most deeply with God? Does your time with God involve music, reading, praying out loud, or being silent?
For Moses, the “tent of meeting” was where he be alone with God. Notice that it says, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” Does it surprise you that God wants to be that intimate with us? Their relationship was so personal that Moses felt free to make special requests to God.
How should we press into these same longings to be with God? Here are some of his requests:
Show me whom you will send with me.
Teach me your ways so I may know you.
Help me to find favor with you.
Show me your glory.
Was there a common theme to how you answered these? Psalm 119:166-167 says, “Lord, I’m longing for more of your salvation, for I want to do what pleases you. My love for your ways is indescribable; in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly!” (Passion Translation).
If God stood in front of you right now, what would you express to Him?
Poem
Pastoral Prayer
Here I am, LORD.
You called me to lead Your people.
Like a border collie
You sent me to herd Your sheep.
Like a crafter
You gave me tools to shape
Your treasure.
But they are
Hard hearted, Lord.
Stubborn willed.
They do not yield
To the fire's
Refining.
You called me, LORD
And now you want to Abandon?
You thought up the plan
And now you decide to
Rip it up?
You put us in this wilderness
And now you say
Forget it?
They are your people, LORD
Not mine
YOU do something!
Personally,
I'm tired,
Spent,
Frustrated,
And in need of a
Sabbath.
