Palms 68:33-34
Our God is strong. The psalmist says “His strength, is in the clouds” Many time the Bible uses clouds or the sky to describe the strength of God. More interestingly, the clouds were used to hide the glory of God.
In the Old Testament, the clouds came down and sat on mount Sinai and hid the glory of God while he gave Moses the Law. When the cloud had descended upon the mountain, there was fire and smoke and lightening. Is it any wonder the people were afraid?
I think about Moses sometimes and wonder just what it would have been like. Spending days in that mountain in the presence of God. It is just unfathomable to even think about. That time with the Lord must have made Moses long for more, because in Exodus 33:18 Moses said, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” Can you imagine? We think we see Gods glory when we look to the sky, when we see a flower bloom, or a child born. Yet Moses has just spent all this time with God and is begging to see his glory.
God told Moses that he would hide him in a clift of the rock and pass before him. But Moses couldn’t see his face, for no man could see the face of God and live.
In chapter 34 verses 5-9 God passes before Moses. vs. 6-7: And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, “The Lord, The Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin….”
So God showed Moses a portion of his glory. Moses’s reaction was to bow himself down and plead for mercy for himself and the people he had led out of Egypt.
Writing this was rather interesting for me. I had taken a picture of storm clouds and knew that I wanted to use it here, but hadn’t decided how yet. I started doing a little reading, that turned into a lot of reading, that then turned into this post. Prior to now, I don’t believe I had really ever thought about how it must have been, to spend that time in the mountain with God.
I am so grateful, that now, because of the blood of our Lord Jesus we can come straight to him with all our problems. And I stand in awe of the King of glory, when I think about what he proclaimed as he passed before Moses, that long ago day on a mountain. Because our God never changes, what was true then is still true now.
I link up at these awesome parties.
Can you just IMAGINE being one of the “old testament people”??!! I’m reading through the bible from front to back and as I read through the old testament I sit in wonder a lot of the time!!! God was hanging out in front of Moses!!! I mean can you IMAGINE sitting right BEFORE GOD himself? I feel like with this life we have we are somewhat distanced. Great post girl!!!
Beautifully written. I believe God sent me here on purpose because I needed to be encouraged, and your thoughts did just that. Thank you, friend.
Thanks for stopping by Joan, I’m glad my thoughts were of encouragement to you. 🙂
In one sense, imagining what the Old Testament folks had before them is wonderful and baffling considering their responses. In another sense, they did not have the Holy Spirit, and we do. If I had to chose, I’d pick what I have. However, to witness what they witnessed and see what they saw would be quite fantastic too. Great post! Thanks for linking up with Into the Word today. Great to meet you. I pinned your post!
Thanks for pinning Falen, Yes I would still chose the Holy Spirit but just imagine… In heaven, we will have both!
Thanks for linking up and sharing! 🙂 Happy WW!
Clouds! I love them! I too had never thought of the clouds in this way! Thank you for sharing and for linking up! Blessings!
Its interesting what you can find when you start with a picture for your inspiration.
how did you get a photo like that?? I love the angle & the colors…
it’s interesting you posted this about Moses this week, because our theme for the week (for the little ones I watch) is Moses! 😉
I took a photo of storm clouds over a corn field. However for some reason when I looked at the picture it didn’t show just how crazy those clouds were.
So I loaded the picture onto Picassa and edited it to make it look that way. Yeah, I know, I cheat 🙂
Yes, it is so awesome to read how God called Abraham friend, how He was with Moses etc. – moving the Holy spirit in their lives. And then to think how He is actually LIVING in us today, seating us in the heavenlies with him right now. I used to think that was in the heaven to come, but the word says now. How much I have to learn about what that really means. Thanks for sharing these lovely thoughts! I came here from the linking at Intentional Me…
Yes it is right now! It is most unfortunate thought that as much as God wishes to do for us, we turn him away so many times.
Amen! How incredible that because of Christ, we can come before the throne of Heaven!? it’s remarkable and awesome. Love your cloud pic too 😉
please come share at the Hearts&Homes link up at http://www.mercyinkblog.com would love to have you!
blessings!!!
Yes, the wonders of our Lord never fail to amaze me!
Oh, and p.s. I would love to do an ad swap with you but couldn’t find a contact for that. Please email if interested! thanks so much 🙂
Beautiful photo! And I agree that we are blessed to be able to approach the throne of God in confidence under the new covenant. Thanks for linking up with Thrive @ Home Thursday!
I can’t imagine seeing the beauty of God. His glory would be so amazing to behold. Thanks so much for linking up with us!
you title caught me …my post is about the strength of the Lord too…I love this post…I am going to write this scripture for my daughter…she is in a time of testing…seeing only clouds…this will give new vision to the clouds…blessings to you.
I don’t really copy-write my photos, If you want to print that picture or share it with her please do. just keep my blog name on it please 🙂
I’m glad to be of encouragement.
I’ve never fully thought about this either, spending time in God’s presence and glory, and how it would make me feel or react. I’ve meditated in holy places before, but not truly imagined what it would be like to have Him before me. What a great post.
Thanks for putting SAST on your linky list!!
Jean
I’m quite often an OT person. I know that if Jesus hadn’t come into our lives nothing would be significant. But seeing how people made good or poor choices so often in the OT Books is a reminder that, even though we have come to the Lord, we can make seriously sinful choices or fall into sin, and we don’t automatically understand what the consequences can be. Yes, we can be forgiven, but, no, we and what surrounds us is not automatically turned to perfection. David and so many others are very solid indicators. The fact that our Lord consistently touches and does all He can to turn people to Himself is worth glorifying, worshiping, and praising ever minute of every day.
Thanks for your insight and sharing.
Absolutely right! Thanks for stopping by 🙂