Transformed in His Presence

Is it not true that a lot unfolds as we get closer? That some long-term relationships, perhaps even some marriages began with an awkwardness at first or some level of fear -at least as felt by one of the parties?  Moses had the privilege of speaking with God face to face. He would often call him up the mountain. Remember though his introduction to God was through a speaking bush- engulfed in fire. This was when tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian- Exodus Chapter 3.

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground”.

When we start the journey of Knowing God, it may feel like sailing on unchartered waters. God desires to reveal Himself more and for there to be no distance between us. You see, the word of God tells us in Proverbs chapter 25:2 that   It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. In one of the childhood games-Hide and seek- there was a thrill for both the person hiding and the one searching. The suspense, heart racing, the thin sweat down one’s neck as one waited to be found out or perhaps not. It may feel like God conceals Himself but as we draw closer in searching for Him, He reveals not only what we are seeking Him for -but a lot more.

While Moses may have been asked to keep a distance at first, we see God draw Him closer in. At the tent of meeting where he would make inquiries to God on behalf of the Israelites, the glory of God stayed at the entrance of the tent and the Lord would speak to Moses’ face to face, as one speaks to a friend –Exodus 33.His relationship with God deepened that God stepped in to defend him when He heard Aaron and Moses’ sister Miriam complain because of his Cushite wife. God would have none of it and so He struck them with leprosy for speaking ill of the one He treasured- Numbers chapter 12

Often times we may only be able to experience an intimate relationship with God in private. It may need you to move away from the usual, switch off your phones for a little while, get off the internet, close yourself in a room where your time with God will not be disrupted. When God wanted to give the children of Israel guidelines to live by He called Moses up- Exodus 24.

 “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.” God then calls Moses higher and reduces his companions. “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction”. Moses then sets out with Joshua his aide and goes up the mountain of God. He asked the elders to remain at the foot of the mountain. When he did, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. He then went even higher entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

When he went up the second time after breaking the first set of tablets of the commandments, God in fact asked him to go up alone. We see God tell him “And no man shall come up with you, and let no man be seen throughout all the mountain; let neither flocks nor herds feed before that mountain. ”we read that in Exodus 34

It is in solitary moments of waiting on God, soaking in an atmosphere of worship or stillness before the Lord, that He pours Himself to us through scripture and reveals more of who He is. He transforms our minds and we become more like Him. In His presence, He points to us areas of sin. He may reveal idols in our hearts that have taken His place. As we wait longer, He helps us to lay them down. Our crowns, our achievements, family that we have centered our lives on -and perhaps even become dependent on to meet for us what only God can. We are also made anew as we wait on Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Hmm…Try sit next to someone with a delightful perfume or a musky cologne and you can be sure you will be smelling like them or smelling them even when you leave their presence. That is how it is with waiting long enough in the presence of God. We will find ourselves carrying His presence even when we physically leave our prayer closets. No wonder Moses was not aware that His face was radiant that the Israelites were afraid to come near him. He had spent 40 days & 40 nights in the presence of God.

He must also have known the secret to him fulfilling his assignment. That he could not do it alone. While some responsibilities can be overwhelming, God’s word holds true that those that look to Him are radiant and their faces are never covered with shame (Psalms 34:5). Leading a nation is certainly no mean feat. Don’t we feel a fraction of such weight of responsibility at times? Be it a role at work or church leading a team. Be it as a newly married woman with the weight of taking care of a home and perhaps a child(ren), or perhaps the anxiety of having a family that look to you to provide, lead and guide as a husband and father. We see Moses acknowledging his need for God to help him- not just to execute his role but to lead those God had put under his care, the nation of Israel– Exodus 33. This was a man who was always yearning for the presence of the Lord. He knew nothing else would distinguish Israel from any other nation thus pleaded to be led of God.

Your life will be different as you spend more time in the Presence of God.Peter & John were disciples who were unschooled & ordinary men but who spoke the gospel so boldly. It left no doubt that they had been with Jesus-Acts 4. For we can’t remain the same when we have been with Jesus.