2-1-2022

 Good Morning All,

      Exodus 24:17: “Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.”

    Why don’t we see this anymore? Why don’t we see this miraculous display of God’s majesty? When we think of the story that surrounds the plagues of Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the leading through the wilderness with the pillar of cloud and fire; when we think of the awe and majesty of God’s very presence at Mount Sinai we think, “now that is what God should be like.”  “I could believe in a God like that very easily. I would never leave a God like that.”  “Just give me a God with thunderbolts and lightening and make Him very, very frightening to all my (His) enemies.”

   You would think that wouldn’t you? It must have been so easy for those early Israelites to believe in God; they saw Him and the mighty works that He did. Yet a mere 8 chapters later in Exodus, in chapter 32, while they are still camped at the bottom of Mt. Sinai, they fall away and worship a golden calf. Too often, our pleas for God to do something, is really a call for God to do what I want, when I want and to whom I want it done. Ultimately, we don’t want God to show His power so we can have faith; we want God to show His power so we can try and control God to do our will.  We are trying to trade places with God and place ourselves on His holy throne and rule all. That is too often the “proof “we seek.

     Fortunately, God knows better than all of us. He acts in ways that are designed to reconcile back to Him with love and not total fear. He does not try to scare us into faith; rather He leads us back to Him with “a still, quiet voice” a voice that offers hope and comfort.  God’s majesty is all around; all we need to do is look. God’s love is revealed to us in the empty tomb of Christ. The power to overcome death and then give to us as a gift is truly awe inspiring. To give us the power of the Holy Spirit as a down payment and as a way to keep us connected to Him is majestic as well.

    It is in the quiet and comfort of His Word that we see God in his glory. We see it in a God who loves, delights, and preserves his creation even when the human part of this creation has despoiled it and walked away from God. We see his glory in his patient treatment of sinners and his desire that no one be lost to sin. It is this desire to redeem all that should encourage us to walk in his ways and to sing his praises eternally. We should then respond to the world with love, as God does to us, and leave the “thunderbolts and lightening” to old rock songs.

God of power and might, we give you thanks for your great power, but we especially give you thanks for your great love. Guard our hearts that we may desire your will. Look with favor upon all who are suffering at this time. Send your Spirit to comfort and console. Make us your hands, shoulders, and voice to proclaim your mercy to all. Move us to share that love with one person today. In the precious Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret