2020: Week 6

If you’ve stuck with your New Year’s resolutions for these six weeks, let me be one of the first to say that I’m proud of you! We’re more than 10% through 2020, and I hope you’ve been able to see some growth.

This week was a lot of fun. My Bible study group began our study on Jen Wilkin’s “Better,” which is an in-depth look into the book of Hebrews. We had our first week’s discussion Sunday night. The week had focused on Jesus being better than the angels. The author of Hebrews makes that argument in the first two chapters, so that was our focus Scriptures.

At the same time, I’m working through Tara-Leigh Cobble’s “The Bible Recap” chronological reading plan and podcast, and some of what we read about angels ministering fell in line with where I was reading in Exodus. This week we’re seeing how Jesus is better than Moses, so it’s again perfect for where I will be reading in the recap plan. It’s almost like God planned for those two things to fall together. Seriously, though, I love it when He works that way.

The description of God descending on Mount Sinai to meet with Moses and give instructions for the Israelites gives me goosebumps.

On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. (Exodus 19:16-20 ESV)

Does it give you goosebumps, too? God Almighty came down in fire, and it’s like the Earth couldn’t contain itself.

This wasn’t the first time Moses met with God, though. Do you remember when Moses met with God through the burning bush? (It’s in Exodus 3 if you want the details.) When Moses saw the bush was not burning up, he went in for a closer look, and Moses’ journey of leading the Israelites began shortly thereafter. This time, though, at Sinai, it’s not a bush that serves as the meeting place. It’s an entire mountain displaying the power of God. That first experience Moses had with God was magnified.

I’m amazed that Moses spoke to God. With the trumpets getting louder, Moses spoke. And with all the massive sounds going on around them, God still heard Moses and invited Him to come up. God was still incredibly personal with Moses — an ordinary man — even while His magnificence was on display.

Knowing that God met with Moses fills me with awe. But knowing that God made a way through Jesus for me to speak with Him directly, too, does the same thing. The God I talk with is no less powerful, even though I’ve never seen Him descend on Sand Mountain in fire, surround Himself with smoke, and speak through thunders and trumpets. He’s still the same God, for His nature never changes. Don’t forget God’s might even though you can’t see it.

I hope you’re encouraged this week to talk with God personally. We have the ability to encounter God as we seek Him, and even if you don’t get a mighty mountain — or even a burning bush for that matter — taking the time to communicate with God is always worth it. He can change your heart as you pray, shaping it into the person He has called you to be.