Reflecting on Exodus 33

REFLECTING ON EXODUS 33 

and Seeking God's Will

So the last few months have been a serious time of wrestling, seeking and searching with both my present and my future in mind.

And, knowing I’m in God’s will in the midst of my search, to whatever degree He allows, is my ultimate desire. 

I am determined to be aligned with the will of my Father, without doubt and, even better, with perfect certainty. 

THAT ISN’T TOO MUCH TO ASK, IS IT?

My prayers have been many and sustained and, at times, desperate. 

My most earnest cry has been…

“Your will. Your whole will. And nothing but your will, so help me, God!”

I have wrestled with the paradox of heart knowledge and head knowledge.

And I have determined NOT to let what I feel in my heart and 

what I know in my head to be at odds with one another.

At times, what I have heard God clearly say to me is, “You don’t need to know, you just need to trust me.” 
                        And, most of the time, I am satisfied with that.

At other times, in moments of uncertainty and pain, I have cried out with heartfelt questions like….

• What are You thinking, LORD?
• Is this really Your idea??
• How can I do what it seems that You are calling me to do?
• God, You are in this, right?
• This is Your plan, isn’t it?
• The voice I’m listening to is Yours and NOT mine, right?
• GOD, Hello? 
• 911…Daddy?

I know, beyond any shadow of doubt, that I can do whatever He calls me to do as long as I know it is… 

• from Him, 
• for Him, 
• approved by Him, 
• sustained by Him 
• and driven by Him. 

I can, I have no doubt of that…because my faith is not in me, but in HIM!

He has yet to fail me. 

And surely I have done crazy in my life!

What was I thinking when…

• I packed up my five kids and moved to Canada for several years
• And then packed them up, once again, and moved them to Pennsylvania to start a new life in an unknown place
• And then, again, when I moved to Hanover to pastor the BIC church there…
• And yet again…moving to Mechanicsburg to serve at Messiah Village

What was I thinking? Well, that God was with me, of course!

In these months…

• I have experienced a joy I never anticipated.
• I have happily adjusted to more than I ever dreamed possible.
• I have willingly embraced what seems to be of Him and it is the polar opposite of my “norm” whatever that is…I don’t even know anymore.
• I have been obedient to the very best of my ability, and most of the time without question.

Because I trust Him. He has yet to fail me.

And I have…

• Learned so much
• I have been challenged in more ways than I can count
• I have grown 
• I have been stretched
• I have….well, I just have.

Yet, to the contrary, I still want more…I need more.

Because of my desperation to KNOW I’m in His will…unable to deny it…

AT LEAST GIVE ME THAT, FATHER!

When I read David Livingston’s prayer I cry, “YES!”

“God, send me anywhere, only go with me.

Lay any burden on me, only sustain me.

And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.”

YES!

• Without question!
• Without doubts!
• With utter and complete faith…as long as YOU, LORD, are in it!
• Nothing more. Nothing less. 

And so I resonate with…

• Dear Moses
• Desperate Moses
• Doubting Moses
• Deplorably inadequate Moses (at least in his own eyes!)

So, I resonate with the Exodus 33 account…

With my own…

• Plight
• And questions 
• And challenges in mind.

Maybe God will speak to me afresh as I listen and search…

Exodus 33 

33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 

² I will send an angel before you (I like that!) and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 

³ Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. 

But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”  (I don’t like that!)

OH GOD! DELIVER ME FROM THE CURSE OF BEING “STIFF-NECKED!”

⁴ When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 

⁵ For the Lord had said to Moses, 

“Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people.

If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you.

Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’”

YIKES! LORD, HAVE MERCY!

LORD, IN YOUR ANGER REMEMBER MERCY!

⁶ So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

(AND I BET THERE WAS NO ARGUMENT FROM ANY OF THEM!)

LORD, deliver me from a stiff-necked argumentative spirit!

The Tent of Meeting

⁷ Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” 

Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.

⁸ And whenever Moses went out to the tent, 

• all the people rose 
• and stood at the entrances to their tents, 
• watching Moses until he entered the tent. 

⁹ As Moses went into the tent,

• the pillar of cloud would come down 
• and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 

OKAY…A PILLAR OF CLOUD MIGHT BE COMFORTING.

¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, 

• they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 

¹¹ The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

AHA! A PILAR OF CLOUD EQUALS GOD HIMSELF!

Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

¹² Moses said to the Lord, 

“You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. 

You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 

¹³ If you are pleased with me, 

• teach me your ways 
• so I may know you 
• and continue to find favor with you. 
• Remember that this nation is your people.”

I LOVE HOW REAL MOSES’ QUESTIONS ARE!

AND THEN HE HEARS EXACTLY WHAT HIS HEART DESIRES!

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

I AM HANGING ONTO THAT ONE!

I AM CLAIMING THAT PROMISE AS MY OWN!

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, 

“If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

EXACTLY!

• THAT is my declaration!
• THAT is my Ebenezer 
• THAT is my divine stand

“If your Presence does not go with me, do not send me up from here."

But, like me, Moses needs a little bit more, so he asks…

¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? 

What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Moses is saying…Come on, God, I need more…

• More than Your face-to-face word…
• More than a mere angel leading the way
• More than a cloud
• More than Your presence….
• More than the assurances You have already given…

Really? What was Moses thinking asking God for MORE?

¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, 

“I will do the very thing you have asked, 

because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 

(SOMETIMES MOSES MAKES ME LAUGH OUT LOUD!)

¹⁹ And 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.
• I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, 
• and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

²⁰ But,” He said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.

²² When my glory passes by, 

I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 

²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

And there you have it, 

Moses…

• Introverted
• Backward
• Unsure of himself
• A man full of doubts about himself

A man who recognizes…

• His desperate need to hear from God
• Know God 
• Learn of God
• Follow God 
• Recognize Him in the midst of all he will face in the days to come…
• He had needs and God would meet them…

So, when all is said and done, in my heart and in my mind, I am standing on The Rock that is higher than I. 

In my mind’s eye He has put me in the cleft of the Rock and covered me with His hand. 

• And there I am safe.
• I will continue to listen.
• I will continue to seek Him.
• I choose NOT to move outside of His will.

And, if His Presence does not go before me…I WILL NOT MOVE!

I stake my ground! 

And I am thankful that I have the HOLY SPIRIT.

I’m leaning heavily on Him these days! 

I can Trust and Obey and I will Be Strong and Be Brave.

Snow Stomping
January 19, 2019

I don't remember who asked the question on Facebook yesterday... 
"Do you love snow or hate it?" I just kept scrolling, at the time I didn't have an answer. But I thought about it through the day and, the truth is, snow has provided a significant element of catharsis for me (the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions!! ) 

For instance, in the late fall when we had the first snowfall I was so angry one evening about a situation that I spent probably a good hour or more "stomping snow" until the entire yard was packed! (Probably not very pastoral...but no one got hurt in the process and God and I had a good...sometimes loud conversation!)

Then I read about the need to "Play Hard" after a stressful or difficult time, so it was only logical to engage in a "no holes barred" snowball fight...the last man standing kind! Again, no one got hurt and it was a most cathartic exercise! 

Yesterday, I was just anxious enough to go out and single-handedly shovel the entire parking lot and sidewalk where I live (not usually a one woman job). 

And then I thought about the innumerable times that snow walking has been just what I needed for whatever was going on in my life. I learned this living in the back of beyond in Canada! 

So, do I love snow or hate it? 
Maybe, sometimes, I just need it. 
And that's good enough for me!
(Photo above is the result of snow stomping...which I highly recommend!)

Pondering Ability and Giftedness

PONDERING ABILITY AND GIFTEDNESS

Anxiously he muttered quietly to himself…and me,                    

 "Hmmmm, we need more able-bodied men around here."

 Sweetly, but with confidence, I replied,

 "Well, I'm an able-bodied woman. What do you need done?" 

 Gratefully, he handed me an offering plate.

 Stoically, I laughed to myself.

I own five hammers, a drill and a skill saw

Two tool boxes and a wheel barrel.

I've been known to cut, hang, mud and sand,

Then paint the finished product, miter and add trim.

I move furniture and shovel snow,

I haul gravel, mulch and sand.
I raised five children by myself (with God!), for heaven's sake!

I think I can handle an offering plate.

I can preach a sermon,

Teach a class,

Pray against the gates of hell,

And soothe a dying soul. 

Don't underestimate me.

Please don't give me labels based on age or gender roles.

I have been called and gifted by God.

I will use what He has blessed me with,

And finish the race believing that

He created me in His image and for His purposes.

Confidently. Purposefully. Gratefully. Uniquely.
And carry that offering plate with grace...called to serve.

(c) Pastor Debby Bentch

                                     

HIS STORY: ALL of Creation was represented in the Story of Christ's Birth!

God…

John 1: The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God. 

² He was with God in the beginning.

³ Through him all things were made;

without him nothing was made that has been made.

⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Philippians 2

                       Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ                     

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father

Jesus Christ, above all and before all, represented God the Father and the Spirit.

I have a hypothesis that I’m going to share with you this morning. 

I believe that just about everything in all of creation was, in some way, represented in the story of Christ’s birth…in fact I HAD to make myself stop looking for ways…

Let me show you what I’m talking about.

We have already seen that JESUS represented the Father in human form.

But then the earthly Family was represented in Jesus’ birth

Jesus was born into a family.

He had…

·        a mom and an earthly dad; a “normal” more or less, kind of family

·        aunts and uncles

·        cousins

·        and brothers and sisters

·        maybe even grandparents

Mary and Joseph represent the human family and community

·        He did not come into an institution.

·        He was not born into a social club or organization.

God placed Jesus very purposely in a family…

• Not a rich
• Well to do
• Cultured
• Esteemed
• Or royal family…

But with an unexpecting young woman and a surprised and bewildered carpenter.

• Jesus was born in a barn, a cave or some other lowly place-not a palace.
• He was placed in a manger trough-not a fancy warm incubator.
• He was wrapped in strips of linen-not warm, fleecy blankies and cushy diapers.
• There was no hospital, midwife or doctor: Jesus was probably either delivered by an angel or Joseph!

Jesus had the most humble beginning of all.

Then there were Shepherds

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.”

Luke 2:8-9

In most Sunday school Christmas pageants they are usually the extras.

All of the kids who don’t get cast in any of the other roles become shepherds…or even the sheep!

We have no clue how many shepherds there were there that day…

But I believe the shepherds may have represented many in the world both then and now:

• the lowly
• the poor
• the uneducated
• outcasts
• unnoticed
• uncared for
• neglected
• stinky
• the youngest; Some of those shepherds were probably just boys

They were, more than likely, at the very bottom of the Palestinian totem pole.

They were right down there with the tax collectors and the dung sweepers.

It’s interesting that only Luke even bothers to mention them as part of the Christmas story.

Certainly they represented “the least of these.”

The Wise Men eventually arrived with their entourage …

They aren’t numbered, except in Christmas stories;

Three gifts equal three Wise Men.

Undoubtedly, they most likely came with others.

Three solitary, wealthy looking men traveling a great distance by themselves, bearing rare and costly gifts would have been perfect targets for robbers and thieves.

And, in my thought process, they came representing…

• the gifted
• the elite
• the wealthy
• the educated
• the upper class
• the highly respected

Those with…

• Possibly some degree of royal birth
• A respectable genealogy
• Prestigious Pedigree
• They would have had notable initials behind their names
• They represent the philosophers; the thinkers, the writers

But I think they also represent the Gentiles…those not of Jewish birth.

In the story of Christ’s birth they represented the…

• aliens
• and foreigners
• The sojourners searching for something that needed to be found.

And what about their Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh?       

                                                                         

Although they were gifts given to the child Jesus I think, in a lot of ways, is it possible that the gifts represent the things of this world.

Most scholars believe that these were the gifts that would have been given in the ancient world to honor a king or a deity.

• ·        Gold: A precious metal.
• ·        Frankincense a perfume or incense,
• ·        Myrrh as anointing oil.

But, just between you and me, can I tell you something?

I think this is the ONE AND ONLY place where everyone and everything wasn’t represented.

You see, if the wise men had brought along their wise wives there would have been

• several bags of groceries,
• a boat load of diapers
• and a pocket full of quarters for the laundry mat! 

Never-the-less, we need to remember this…

The things of this world only have true meaning and eternal value when they are presented to the KING of kings!

And What About All Those Angels

Throughout His story from beginning to end angles kept showing up in a timely   manner…

•         To tell Mary the Good News
•       To tell Joseph it was okay, it was a “God-Thing”
•         To alert the shepherds
•         To stand guard
•         To herald the glorious with the hallelujah chorus

And everywhere He/She/they went the resounding message was, “BE NOT AFRAID!”

•         Don’t worry!
•        It’s all part of God’s plan
•         Every things going to be okay!
•         FEAR NOT! Good Tidings! Great Joy!

There were Animals:

Representing the Animal Kingdom, of course!

The Friendly Beast song would tell us that there were any number of animals present…

We have no idea what kind or how many, but surely the animals were not left out!

They were a part of the Genesis creation story and they survived the flood…there had to be animals, including a donkey, guarding the manger!

Jesus’ story is replete with the Supernatural: Not only angelic visits but also Dreams/Visions/Prophetic Announcements

Now Consider The Star

Didn’t it represent the heavens and the earth, the sun, the moon...all of the heavenly bodies.

The Star was the first GPS system.

No need for a Garmin or TomTom or my personal favorite~OnStar!

All of them are second rate compared to the star that led the shepherds and the wise men to Jesus.

It was a star that marked the holy place in Bethlehem!

A Star that led the wise men to Jesus.

We can’t forget the brass…

There was Cesar Augustus representing…

·        World authorities: “the powers that be”

World leaders…

·        kings and queens and princes and princesses

·        governors  and heads of state

·        presidents and prime ministers

·        chairs, chiefs and czars

Those who…

·        rule the nation’s kingdoms

·        reign on manmade thrones

·        dictate and decide the fate of their people

And Herod…

I believe Herod represented the Kingdom of Darkness: hell bent on destroying the Messiah.                                                              

Paul in Ephesians 6 calls them: The rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Surely Herod acted as…

•         the emissary
•      the pawn
•        the messenger of destruction
• …attempting to do the enemy’s bidding.

Herod stood to represent…

·        The “anti/Christs” of past, present and future.

·        Herod represents those who are destined for destruction.

·        He was a liar and a deceiver.

·        He characterized “selfish ambition and vain conceit”

Doesn’t it stand to reason that Herod also represents those who have been blinded by the enemy and…

• ·        cannot see
• ·        or hear
• ·        receive
• ·        or understand the Good News of Jesus Christ…

Like the Innkeeper who represented those who “had no room” for Jesus.

The Innkeeper and all the others who shut their door to Mary and Joseph represent those who have no room in their hearts.

·        They would kick Jesus to the curb.

·        They’re already full.

·        There is room for no more…certainly not the Christ child and His parents.

Zach and Liz/Simeon and Anna

Among my favorites are Zachariah and Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna…

I think these four godly and righteous individuals represent believers past, present and future.

They are…

·        The faithful

·        The Remnant

Those who would always remain from those who hear the Good News and yet choose to walk away.

I also think they represent the older generation of every generation.

All four of them would have been considered “old” by our standards and yet they were used mightily of God…for His purposes.

·        Zachariah and Elizabeth, in their old age, would parent John the Baptist; Jesus’ cousin, the one who would prepare the way.

·        Simeon refused to die until he had witnessed the Consolation of Israel…            the Messiah.

·        Anna lived in the temple; praying, fasting and worshipping and waiting.

All four were faithful and willing to be of service to God, regardless of their age.

All of Creation was represented in the Christmas Story!

SLIDE 12: And into this world-wide, all of creation story comes JESUS.

He is the one who levels the playing field for ALL…

Galatians 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

In Him there is…

• ·        No rich or poor
• ·        Important or unimportant
• ·        Ill or well
• ·        Old or young
• ·        Sinner, Seeker or Saint
• ·        All are given a seat at the table if they receive Him.

Luke 13:29  
“People will come from east and west and north and south,

and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

And in the end “every knee will bow and every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father!”

Christ’s birth ties together THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT.

The Old Testament Prophecy becomes New Testament reality in Jesus Christ.

His story speaks of… DIVINITY/HISTORY/PROPHECY/GEOGRAPHY/GEOLOGY/POLITICS/

ECONOMICS/ANGEOLOGY AND DEMONOLOGY/ ASTRONOMY/ BIOLOGY/GENETICS/ NATURE/ PHYSICS/SUPERNATURAL AND MIRACULOUS AND SUPREMICY

THEY ALL COME TOGETHER IN CHRIST

Colossians 1

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 

¹⁶ For in him all things were created: 

·        things in heaven and on earth,

·        visible and invisible,

·        whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; 

·        all things have been created through him and for him. 

¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church;

 he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, 

so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 

¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 

and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

whether things on earth or things in heaven, 

by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

JESUS; The Beginning and the End.

And all of the in between.

May every knee bow and every tongue confess that

HE is the LORD of lords and the KING of kings

now and forever, amen

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

AND THEN THERE IS THIS….

Video: It’s All About the Cross (the Ball Brothers)