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So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 20:21
The book of Exodus gives us the account of God delivering the people of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt and their subsequent journey to the land He had promised their forefathers; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Despite God’s miraculous hand in bringing them out of Egypt, leading them forward by a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire by night, covering and protecting them; they still were met with great challenges and trials along the way.
When these difficulties came, did the people of Israel turn their hearts toward God and cry out to Him, trusting God with their need? No. Rather, they disregarded the LORD and complained to Moses whom God had called as leader over them. Sadly, they would do this many times after.
God gave the people opportunities to know and experience Him by allowing circumstances that challenged their self-reliance, but their hearts were not in a place of surrender. Don’t we find ourselves at times also like them? The LORD delivered them out of bondage by His Righteous Right Hand, set them apart and called them to be His people.
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” Exodus 19:4
When God called Moses and the people of Israel to Mount Sinai to establish His covenant with them, God’s presence was thoroughly felt by all: “Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.” Exodus 19:16-17 The people of Israel had to choose whether or not they would place their trust and faith in God and obey His commands. I find the following verses not only interesting but a revealing of where a person’s heart stands when faced with God and the unknowns in life: Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” Exodus 20:18-20 It was all too much and the people allowed their fear to hold them back. They chose the lesser part of a relationship with God. Moses, however, chose differently.
So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 20:21
…but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
Moses drew near.
It is in those very places in our own lives, those hard and desperate places, thick with darkness where we come to know God so much more deeply. Like Moses though, we have to choose to press into God and trust Him even when our circumstances are thick darkness and the outcome unknown.
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Dina
The Green Olive Tree 