The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 40:34-35,
"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
The majestic splendor of God radiates in a visible glory that can be see and felt. How astonishing the Creator enters into his creation to make his presence among his people! Following the assembly of the tabernacle, God manifested his presence with his glory filling it, resulting in Moses no longer being able to enter.
There was a curtain in the tabernacle behind which God's glory radiated. I suspect this made it possible for God to commune with mankind here on earth in a way that was survivable by man. Earlier, when asked by Moses that God would show him his glory, the Lord said "'I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence... But,' he said, 'you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.'" Exodus 33:19-20.
Paul made an interesting observation about this physical manifestation of the radiance of God's glory, "...God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see." 1 Timothy 6:15-16. This radiance of God's glory is something that is apparently fatal for sinful mankind if encountered.
In something of a humorous account (from our perspective, not theirs), after having spent time with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, when Moses came down to the people with the second set of tablets of the law, this glory was reflected in Moses' face and sent his brother and the other leaders of Israel off in a panic, "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai." Exodus 34:29-32.
This resulted in Moses needing to use a veil for a period of time, "When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord." Exodus 34:33-35.
"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
The majestic splendor of God radiates in a visible glory that can be see and felt. How astonishing the Creator enters into his creation to make his presence among his people! Following the assembly of the tabernacle, God manifested his presence with his glory filling it, resulting in Moses no longer being able to enter.
There was a curtain in the tabernacle behind which God's glory radiated. I suspect this made it possible for God to commune with mankind here on earth in a way that was survivable by man. Earlier, when asked by Moses that God would show him his glory, the Lord said "'I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence... But,' he said, 'you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.'" Exodus 33:19-20.
Paul made an interesting observation about this physical manifestation of the radiance of God's glory, "...God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see." 1 Timothy 6:15-16. This radiance of God's glory is something that is apparently fatal for sinful mankind if encountered.
In something of a humorous account (from our perspective, not theirs), after having spent time with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, when Moses came down to the people with the second set of tablets of the law, this glory was reflected in Moses' face and sent his brother and the other leaders of Israel off in a panic, "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai." Exodus 34:29-32.
This resulted in Moses needing to use a veil for a period of time, "When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord." Exodus 34:33-35.
All of this speaks to me of the transcendence of God over his creation, manifested in a physical glory of his majestic splendor that radiates in a deadly wavelength of light - an unapproachable light. How awesome our God!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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