Bibledoorajar: Preparing the Way

     Today in our assembly we sang "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword, His truth is marching on. Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, His truth is marching on." As we completed the song, you could hear an Amen here and then there. Your mind immediately said: "Our mighty Leader, the Word, our Jesus, is leading us on! He is able to square things by His truth and prepare our way to our Promised Land.
     God concluded the delivery of the law portion in two ways. First, He assured the people that they would have a messenger (angel) out ahead of them if they obeyed. This angel spoke completely for God the Father. He would guard them along their way and bring them all the way to the Promised Land IF they PAID ATTENTION to Him and listened to what He said. I am sure all the teachers in our reading group have told their students something similar along the way: "You will pass, If you pay attention and listen to what I teach you." They were not to rebel against this Messenger because God's Name was(is) in Him. What followed was a long I WILL list of things He would do if they listened, did not rebel, and obeyed and worshiped God. The list was liberating and a platform for complete trust. Moses reported all of this to the people and they responded in one voice: "Everything the Lord has said we will do." Moses put it in writing.
     Second, He confirmed the Covenant on the basis of the holy Commandments with the leaders. The designated men went so far with Moses up on the mountain, but then Moses required them to wait at a certain level while he and Joshua went further up. Finally, the cloud covered the mountain and the glory of the Lord settled on the mountain. The people were looking up and seeing what looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. On the seventh day God called Moses before Him. He basked there forty days and forty nights. This Old Testament transfiguration reminds us of a greater One where three men witnessed Glory coming from Jesus. According to the Battle Hymn, it is that "glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me" and is the most glorious of all for believers. Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Teach this!