The Ways Of God by Selwyn Hughes Sat 31 Aug He remains For reading & meditation – Exodus 40:34–38 ‘So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night …’ (v.38) As we come to the conclusion of the Exodus story we find God present with His people in a powerful way. Earlier references to the cloud, the presence and the glory, have prepared us for this striking finale to the book. As the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle Moses is unable to enter, just as, later, the priests would be unable to minister in the Temple when the glory cloud filled it (1 Kings 8:10). Here we learn further wonderful things about God. We learn that God’s holiness, His otherness, His majestic difference from us, does not indicate aloofness or distance from us. On the other hand, we learn that God’s intimacy and nearness to us does not diminish His holiness or render Him tame and user-friendly. He remains the Holy One in our midst. We also learn that God is passionately determined to travel with His people, come what may, risking His own reputation, and becoming vulnerable in the process. As we leave this astonishing book let’s do so with a heart full of gratitude that the God of Exodus is still the same today. He still hears the cry of His people, still saves and delivers, still speaks and stays true to His covenant, still guides and is present with us on our pilgrimage to the promised new creation. The lasting image from the Exodus is of God’s glory filling the tabernacle. Such glory must have been wonderful to behold for those who saw it. One day, however, the story of salvation was to be continued with the appearance of God’s glory in the form of Jesus – Immanuel, God with us. And ‘We have seen his glory’ (John 1:14). What glory! Gracious Father, I thank You that I have fellowship with a God who designed my freedom, delivers me from bondage, carries me through life’s wilderness, and promises me He will never leave me. I can go on now, no matter what. Amen. Gracious Father, I thank You that I have fellowship with a God who designed my freedom, delivers me from bondage, carries me through life’s wilderness, and promises me He will never leave me. I can go on now, no matter what. Amen. Further Study Heb. 13:10–15; John 14:1–4; Rev. 22:1–7 1. What are our altar and offerings? 2. What ‘promised land’ awaits the end of our journey?
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 23:52:01 +0000