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Immanuel

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. The people who saw and interacted with Jesus throughout His life were interacting with God Himself. In fact, when Matthew recorded Jesus’ story, he reminded his readers of Isaiah’s prophecy: “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:23).

Yes. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21), but He also sent Him to show Himself to us. Just as God showed Himself to Moses, so Moses would know God was with him as he led the people to the Promised Land, God showed Himself to all of us, so we can know He is with us as we follow Jesus to heaven.

And if we follow Jesus by living the way He taught, someday we’ll see God face to face (1 John 3:2) and celebrate His Presence for all eternity.


Photo by David Pisnoy on Unsplash

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