His face (panim)...

Exodus 33:18 “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.”

 I think about Moses compared to Adam and Eve.  Unlike them, Moses is a man that is doing the will of his Father, yet is leading a people that are stiff-necked and have turned away from YHVH.  Due to their sins (sins of the people), YHVH’s panim (face) is turned away from Moses.  This obviously foreshadows Yeshua and the cross.  As I compare these two situations, I wonder at the magnitude of pain that is felt by both Moses and Yeshua…both suffering for the sins of a people, both at that moment being rejected by YHVH.  I can’t comprehend the pain.  I can’t feel the over-whelming sense of despair that they felt as His panim was turned away.  I think about the comfort I find in Him (as one who hasn’t seen His panim), the solace I find in His arms, and then I imagine His turning away.  The vast sea of rejection, the falling from His arms…  Desolate, abandoned, forsaken…    I don’t bask in His presence enough.  I don’t appreciate His loving presence enough.  I don’t feel the magnitude of Yeshua’s sacrifice enough.  I should feel it every moment of every day.  I should thank YHVH every moment for His grace and mercy…that I have felt, and still feel, the freedom to worship Him…in the open, during the day when the sun can shine on my face.  So many people in our world today do not have the blessing of freedom of worship.  My prayers are not with them often enough. 

I am humbled today, humbled by YHVH’s love for me. 

Thank You, Father…for it…all.  Thank You for the Bible that I have studied this morning.  Thank You for time with You.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of your people today that aren’t blessed with freedom…the freedom that knowing You brings and the freedom to worship You after they have found You.