Janet Benlien Reeves

As Moses prepared to lead God’s people to the Promised Land, he wanted to see God’s glory. The people had disobeyed God by worshipping a golden calf, and God had almost destroyed them for it. Moses intervened. The people regrouped. God told Moses to lead them on (Exodus 32:1-33:1, NIV). But Moses wanted to know that God was going with him. Seeing God’s glory was the proof he required (Exodus 33:12-18). In my opinion, Moses’ request was audacious. He dared to negotiate with God. Moses knew what he desperately needed, though, and stated it boldly. God responded with grace. In fact, He told Moses He was pleased with Him (Exodus 33:17). He granted Moses’ request—to a point. Because no one could see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:20), God put Moses in a cleft in a rock and covered him with His hand. After God passed by, He removed His hand, so Moses could see his back. Moses wanted to see God; God made it happen. Many years later, God made it happen again. This time, God sent Jesus. T...

A chaplain our family knows once said, “The Bible is not a cute little book with cute little stories that give us moral messages.” Though our family already knew this, I appreciate the reminder every year. It's a thought worth deep consideration at Christmas and all year. The story of Jesus’ birth is not only a sweet Christmas tale to share with our children. It’s also the story of an actual event, one with eternal consequences for all humankind. Just as the pilgrims really came over on the Mayflower and President Lincoln really did give the Gettysburg Address and Sacagawea   really did help Lewis and Clark, God really did become man. Mary and Joseph were real people with real emotions who surely experienced a strange combination of wonder and fear and confusion and delight. The angels really did appear to the shepherds in the fields at night. Those shepherds really ran to find Jesus and told everyone all they had seen. The Magi really did follow the star to Bethlehem where ...