Tag: Moses

sebastien gabriel fxi1fpvbpa0 unsplash

How Christ Reveals the Father to Us (John 1:18)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 1:18

Explanation:

The idea that “no man has seen God at any time” is pretty incredible.  Moses was one who knew this reality. At one time He asked God to see His glory.

[18] And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. [19] And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. [20] And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. [21] And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: [22] And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: [23] And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Exodus 33:18-23

God’s own testimony is that mankind cannot handle seeing Him in all His glory.  Moses encountered God in the burning bush.  The children of Israel saw God’s presence manifested in a vailed way through the pillar of fire, the pillar of cloud.  They saw the shekinah glory of God as it filled the tabernacle.  Moses only saw the after effects, the back parts, of God’s presence in glory, and it changed him. Check out Exodus 34:

[29] And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. [30] And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. [31] And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. [32] And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. [33] And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. [34] But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. [35] And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Exodus 34:29-35

This is just someone who saw the effects of God’s glory, and they had to cover his face.  God is so infinitely glorious and holy that mankind, after the fall, has no hope of standing in his presence and seeing his glory.

Yet this verse tells us that though we have not seen God, now Christ in His incarnation is revealing God to us.  He is vailed in flesh.  At the transfiguration His glory was revealed.  This was Peter’s testimony.

[16] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. [18] And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2 Peter 1:16-18

This was also the testimony of Jesus Christ about Himself.  His claim was that He was the Son of God, equal with the Father.

“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” (John 14:8-11)

The text says that He was in the bosom of the Father.  This is an intimate reality for Jesus.  He enjoyed perfect fellowship with the Father and Spirit from eternity past as a coequal with them.  Jesus’ testimony here is that God the Father has revealed Himself to the world through the person of Jesus Christ.  

The word “declared” is the word exēgeomai , from which we get words like exegete.  The idea is to expose, to clarify, to proclaim or declare.  Exegetical or expositional preaching has as it’s aim to say what the text says in a way that is faithful to it.  We are walking through the text and considering what it means.  We’re exposing the text.  John’s statement here is that God the Father is exposing what He is like by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Application:

I can have a relationship with God the Father by believing in Christ the Son and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell me once I am saved. This reality is so wonderful I ought to let it impact every part of my life. The God who created the Universe became one of us. He did it to save us. He did it to reveal Himself to us. 

His holiness and glory helps me to see who I really am next to who He really is. I need His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. 

Response:

  1. What is your response to this depiction of the glory of God?
  2. Take some time to thank God for sending Jesus to reveal Himself to us.
sean foster jrazh5w7nia unsplash

Moses and Jesus Contrasted: A Biblical Perspective

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional2 Comments

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:17

Explanation

Here we have an interesting contrast.

We have two contrasting figures.

Moses gave the law. Jesus fulfilled the law.

Moses broke the law. Jesus kept the law on our behalf.

Paul tells us that the law had a specific purpose.

[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:22-26

The law exposes our sin and helps us to understand our death sentence. 

Thankfully we do not need to stay subject to the law for salvation. Jesus kept the law and then took our penalty so that we can have life. Grace and truth, what Christ was full of, was given to us by Christ Himself.

[20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

The law came from God through Moses. It exposed our sin. Jesus Christ came and kept the law, took our sin, and gave us His righteousness.

Application

We need to acknowledge these realities to find life in Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that we have broken God’s law. We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and that we can only come to the Father through Him.

Response

  1. Have you accepted Christ, repenting of your sin and turning to Him by faith for salvation?
  2. Have you thanked Him lately for your salvation if you are saved?
  3. We are not saved so that we can keep breaking God’s law. God wants to change us by giving us His Spirit. Is there a sin you need to forsake?
levi meir clancy kbpvj7knbtu unsplash

The Terror of the Law- Hebrews 12:18-19

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Hebrews 12:18-21

Explanation:

When the author says “ye” he is speaking to the original reader.  The context would tell us that these were jews who have been given evidence of what God has done both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, and have been given a defense of faith in what God has done.  He sets up a metaphor- a spiritual illustration of a truth from their history, by comparing two mountains.  The first one is Mount Sinai, and the second found in vers 22 is Mount Sion.  

In referring to Mount Sinai he told these readers that they are not come unto the mount.  How do we know that the mountain is Sinai?  He is quoting from and referring to Exodus 19.  This “mount that might be touched” is referring to Mount Sinai.  In Exodus 19 God gives specific instruction about what His people are not to do while He is giving Moses the law on the mountain.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

The author of Hebrews also says what happened there.  He describes it exactly the way that verses Exodus 19:16-19 described it.

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

Exodus 19:10-19

What happened in Exodus 19 and 20 is that God gave the law to His people.

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:1-3

The author of Hebrews then is saying that these Hebrews are not left at the mount of Sinai.  They are not left where all they have is the law.  The difficulty with the law is that you cannot keep the law.  If you break any part of the law you’ve broken the whole thing. 

The law does bring terror, because there is a lack of ability to keep the law.

Application:

I do have a relationship with the law in that God does want me to keep it.  I don’t always keep it.  I mess up.  I am flawed.  I sin.  I need God’s grace to cover me because I mess up so badly.

I also know that I am loved despite my performance and that God is gracious to me. He has blessed me so much, and I owe him my life, my strength, and my all.

Response:

God thank you for today. I pray that you will help me to live for you well. Amen

calin stan a8zskcbe1xk unsplash

Hebrews 11:24-26

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional2 Comments

Hebrews 11:24-26

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;  25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Explanation:

God used Pharaoh’s daughter to preserve the life of Moses.  He could have been killed because of the faith of his mother to keep him alive against the kings orders, but God worked so that he would be adopted by her.

God also used Pharaoh’s daughter to prepare Moses to lead the people out of Egypt.  Moses was educated in the palace and enjoyed the benefits of that privilege as a child.

Yet there came a time where Moses had to make a decision about the worldview and the lifestyle he was being given.  Would he accept the God of his mother and father (who also raised him), or would he accept the accepted pagan gods and perspective of the Egyptians?  

The gods of the ruling class or the God of the slave class?

The pleasure of the palace or the affliction of his people?

There is an interesting word that drives these verses.  It’s translated “esteeming”.  It means to place a value on something.  We all do this.  We esteem certain things over others.

Moses did this evaluating and esteeming between “the reproach of Christ” and the “treasure in Egypt”.  What did he esteem when confronted with this choice?  He esteemed the reproach of Christ over than that treasure.

How did he do that?  It says in verse 24.  The answer is clear- “by faith”.

Was it a good decision?

Well, the pleasure of the palace was pretty good I’m sure.  The treasures of Egypt were vast and well known.  They were also temporary.  

The reproach of Christ and the affliction of the people of God was also temporary.  Yet the benefits of making that choice are still being enjoyed by Moses today.  “For he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”  The greek word translated “recompence of the reward” is the word “misthapodosia”.  It means “the discharge of wages”.  One way to think about it is “pay day”.  Moses knew by faith that there was going to be a pay day, and even though it was a long way off, he better live accordingly. 

Application:

What a vivid picture for me.

As a dad, I want my kids to learn that kind of discernment.  I want to exemplify for them this discernment.  There can be pleasure in sin.  That pleasure would be for a season, yet there is a day of misthapodosia.   There is a payday coming.  They have to learn to esteem God’s truth.  

Sometimes the pay day is relatively soon.  There is pain that can come because of ungodly choices.  The wages of sin is death.  

Sometimes it seems that the ungodly prosper.  We cannot be fooled by this mirage.  There are always consequences for sin.

We must, by faith, remember that God is just.  He is merciful and kind.  He is gracious, and that is accessed by faith.  

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.  

We must choose God and His ways, even when the decision, in the short run, seems to lead to difficulty.  We must believe that God will be “a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Response:

God, help me to love you and serve you today.  Help me to do the hard things when the easier things that are wrong are an option.  Amen