Day 46, February 15, 2021
Scriptures: Exodus 33-34, 2 Corinthians 3 Well, it’s nice when the reason why the texts were selected are pretty much blatantly obvious! Paul directly points to Exodus 34. Moses’ veiled face when he leaves the presence of God and goes to be among the people. Before we get to the veiled faces and unveiled faces of 2 Cor. 3, I’d like to take a moment and address one of my favorite OT texts, Exodus 33. Moses is pleading the case that God must go with the Israelites. If they don’t have His presence go with them, then there is no hope for them at all. For one, they simply couldn’t survive without the presence of God. But Moses also knows that the presence of God going with them is the point of the whole thing. How will the other nations know that they are set apart and distinguished as God’s people if their God isn’t with them? That’s why Moses begs for God to go with them, not to let His presence depart from them. God goes with the Israelites. When Moses meets with God, after he leaves and we are told that he veils his face from the people. The Israelites apparently can’t handle the radiant glory of God, shining off of Moses face. Paul is addressing the Corinthian church. And he says of them something quite remarkable. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. We are being transformed into the image of Christ. When we look at one another, our faces are no longer veiled from seeing the glory of God. We see the glory of God on display, in one another. When we look at one another, we are shining the glory of God, the transformative love of God. We are marked, sealed, anointed, adopted, loved, and now, transformed. You have a place in God’s family and we shine for Him. Jordan
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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