Our Scripture meditation is based on Exodus 24:15-18, part of the of the Old Testament Reading for next week, The Transfiguration of our Lord. For a meditation on the Gospel Lesson, click HERE.
[15] Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. [16] The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. [17] Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. [18] Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
We are preparing for Transfiguration Sunday, the final Sunday before the season of Lent. The Scripture passages for Transfiguration Sunday powerfully demonstrate God’s grace.
In the Transfiguration account (Matthew 17:1-9), Jesus reveals his divine glory in front of three of His disciples. In the Old Testament reading we’re told Moses was in God’s presence for 40 days.
How are either of the accounts possible? We’re told in Exodus 33:20: “…man shall not see me and live.” The Prophet Habakkuk says God’s eyes are so pure He “cannot see evil and cannot look at wrong.” (Habakkuk 1:13).
The answer is God’s grace. When Moses entered God’s presence, God graciously protected Moses from destruction.
This truth is very beneficial for Christians today. Generally speaking, the longer we are Christians, the more comfortable we become in living in God’s grace. It is good to have confidence in our relationship with God. It is not healthy to become so comfortable with grace that we feel deserving of our relationship with God or take the relationship for granted.
That is where God’s holiness blesses us. Knowing God’s holiness, and additional divine attributes, renews our appreciation of God’s grace. Who are we that God, the Holy One, would deign to bring us into His family? Yet in baptism God brings us into His family.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
Kevin Wilson 360 