Verse of the day: Exodus 34:29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
Does the glory of God shine in us, and through us, today? Do we spend the kind of time before God that translates into others recognizing that there is something different about us, and that we have been in the presence of God? Has having Christ in our lives made a glowing difference? Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai with God, and upon his return there was an obvious indication in his countenance that he had been in the presence of God. Although Moses had been without physical nourishment for forty days, his countenance did not show the effects of not having been physically fed. The spiritual nourishment he received shone through in his physical being. Sadly, there are far too many of us Christians today who are far more concerned with feeding our bodies (and in many cases with food that is not good for us) than we are in feeding our spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” If we were as careful to feed ourselves with God’s Word, as we are to feed ourselves with the junk we eat, we would accomplish for more in the world for the cause of Christ; and we would probably live far healthier lives that would enable us to serve God with more fervor. Upon Moses return, he was unaware of the fact that his face was shining. Even as he was made aware of it, his response says a lot about who he was as a servant of God. I am afraid that today if men’s faces physically shone brighter than others, they would use it for their own benefit and glory. We already see how many are filled with pride because they have gained knowledge, or can speak eloquently, and have misused their God-given talents and abilities for their own selfish gain and following. It is obvious from reading this passage that Moses was a humble servant. He considered the glory of God to be so great that he did not even notice that his own countenance now shined. It is a privilege for us to shine the light of Christ in a dark world. We are called to be light in this world, but we must do so with humility, realizing that this light is not our own (Matthew 5:14-16). Philippians 2:14-16 reminds us, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Moses did not boast of his position or look down on the people because of this supernatural event. He did not use this as an opportunity to go before God with selfishness in his heart. Instead, he sought to intercede for the people. The extent of his humility was such that when he had the opportunity to take Abraham’s place in becoming the one from whom a great nation would come, he humbly turned it down and preferred that his name be blotted out of God’s book, rather than that the Israelites perish (Exodus 32:9-14, 31-32). When I read this passage, two New Testament examples came to mind. In Acts 4:13, we read what was said of Peter and John, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” We also read in Acts 6:15 in respect to Stephen when he was accused of blasphemy, “And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.” This accusation came in response to him preaching Christ, being filled with faith and power, and doing great wonders and signs, among the people (Acts 6:8). Whether we consider Moses, Peter, John, or Stephen, the bottom line is that this was all possible because of God’s presence. Moses shone not his own glory, but God’s. He did not use this shining light for his own fame and glory, but for God’s. Peter, John, and Stephen were noticed not because of themselves and who they were, but because Peter and John had been with Jesus, and Stephen was shining forth the light of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:10). The reason Moses wore the veil was twofold. First, he did it out of humility, but secondly, he desired that the people not be enamored by the fading glory of the law he brought to them, which would be replaced by the greater glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 3). Today, we possess this glory in Christ Jesus. We are to shine in this dark world, by the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 clearly tells us, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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