The Journey Resumed (into God’s Glory)
Introduction
This morning- Ex 33- heading- The Journey Resumed
God used Moses- lead Israel out of 430 yrs of slavery in Egypt- significant- from slavery to freedom.
ie fall of the Berlin wall, iron curtain in Europe
Picture- God, through Christ, leading us out of spiritual slavery to freedom in Christ.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. NASU
Do we fully grasp/rejoice in what God has done for us or do we toy again w/sin that leads back to slavery.
1Pe 2:16 You are free from the law, but that doesn’t mean you are free to do wrong. Live as those who are free to do only God’s will at all times. TLB
God calls Moses up the mountain- ten commandments
While gone- people fall into sin- make golden calf.
As a result over 3000 men die in one day for their sin.
The Journey Resumed
Ex 33:1-3
What does He mean by obstinate?
God’s judgment- My presence will not go w/you.
He would keep- promises made to Abraham, but He Himself would not go w/them- send an angel.
Obstinate- stiffed-neck, stubborn, dense.
Sin is always costly- Israel’s sin led to the death of thousands and robbed them of God’s presence.
God never permits His people to sin successfully. Charles Spurgeon
Ex 33:4-6
The ornaments may have been a sign of their idol worship- melted down gold to make golden calf.
Ancient world- people- demonstrate repentance- remove jewelry- put on plain clothes or sackcloth.
Picture of God’s grace- God had obviously not chosen to save Israel because of their goodness/superiority
1 Cor 1:26-29
God chose Israel to be a people apart from, different, separate from the rest of the world.
Jn 17:15-17
The truth should set us apart for God’s purposes.
Interesting quote- what does it mean?
It is faith’s work to claim and challenge loving-kindness out of all the roughest strokes of God. Samuel Rutherford (Scottish Minister)
Ex 33:7-11
Tent of Meeting- precursor of the Tabernacle.
Moses- go to this tent to meet w/God and intercede.
The tent- outside the camp- perhaps as a reminder to the people that their sin separated them from God.
They could worship God but from a distance.
In Christ God breaks down this separation.
Today we can experience God’s presence through the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.
Interesting- Joshua would linger behind in the tent.
Joshua was the man God was preparing to take over.
Ex 33:12-18
Moses makes three requests of God …
1. Let me know your ways
2. Let me experience your presence
3. Let me see your glory
Look at these three requests in some detail …
1. Let me know your ways (v13)
John Paul Jackson- we ask God to send His presence and glory, but do not pray much to know His ways.
Knowing the ways of God opens the door for us to experience His presence and glory.
Sometimes we want the benefits of God w/o the cost.
Moses recognized that he needed to know/walk in the ways of God to fully enjoy His grace/favor.
Paul was asking God for the same thing as Moses …
Phil 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, NASU
Or Philip … Jn 14:8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
This should be the cry of every human heart.
To desire to know the ways of God is to desire His guidance/direction/purpose for our lives.
The closer we draw to God the more we will feel the need to be led by His HS.
Hos 6:3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." NLT
If we follow the ways of God we will not lack anything we need to do/be what He calls us to.
Lk 22:35 And He said to them, "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing." NASU
2. Let me experience your presence
Moses knew he could not make it on his own- he knew he needed the presence of God.
Moses sought God’s presence- not for His personal edification/enjoyment- but in the middle of seeking
His help to fulfill- commission God gave him.
What does this mean … someone once said …
God’s bidding is His enabling.
Smith and Lee said …
The presence of God is always associated with His commands and demands. We may confidently ask and expect His all-sufficiency to meet our every need in doing His will.
God promises us His presence today as well, as we set out to fulfill our commission from God.
Mtt 28:19-20
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." NASU
As God’s glory filled the Tent of Meeting, may we find ourselves filled with His presence as well.
God’s presence with them separated them from the land of Egypt and from the house of bondage.
The presence of God separates us from the …
power of sin,
fear of man,
cares of the world,
dominion of Satan,
tyranny of self.
His presence separates.
If we are not willing to separate ourselves from the sinful activity, we must part with His presence.
Amos 3:3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment (agreement)? NASU
God and the world are not in agreement and they cannot therefore walk together.
2Cor 6:14-18
3. Let me see your glory (v18)
Mtt 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. NASU
Moses cries out here to see the glory of God.
In Ex 33:20-23 God reveals Himself to Moses.
As we look at the life of Christ we will begin to get a picture of God’s incredible glory.
When Jesus was talking to Phillip He said …
… He who has seen Me has seen the Father …
An earnest heart seeking to know God and His ways, will eventually lead to- show me your glory.
The more we experience the glory of God, the more we will sense a need for His covering in our lives.
Isa 6:5 Then I said, "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." NASU
When Moses came down from- mountain/being in God’ presence- His face shone with God’s glory.
Ex 34:29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai … that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. NASU
However, he would put a veil on because it scared the people and later it began to fade away.
In Jesus Christ we see the glory of God revealed.
2 Cor 4:6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. NASU
In Stephen- a picture of God’s glory imparted to men.
Acts 6:15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. NASU
God wants to impart His glory to us as well so that we can demonstrate the presence of God to men.
What does the glory of God mean to you?
Conclusion
Today the veil has been removed in Christ …
2 Cor 3:14-18
We are a people that should know and understand the ways of God, desiring His presence/glory.
God will pour water out on the thirsty.
God Himself is to be the joy of our hearts.
The door into the fullness of God’s blessings is by seeking God Himself.
Jn 17: 3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NASU
