Exodus 24:13-18: a reflection

13Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto God’s Mountain. 14He said to the elders, “Wait here for us, until we come again to you. Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can go to them.” 15Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The LORD’s glory settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day he called to Moses out of the middle of the cloud. 17The appearance of the LORD’s glory was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18Moses entered into the middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Moses climbs God's mountain and disappears into a cloud that settles over the summit. For six days the cloud covers the mountain, the glory of the Lord like a devouring fire visible to the watching people below. On the seventh day God calls to Moses out of the cloud, and Moses goes further up, into the very center of the glory, where he remains for forty days and forty nights. To draw near to God is to enter something awesome and consuming.

Two things stand out. First, the waiting: six days pass before God speaks, the cloud simply resting on the mountain. Moses does not rush in; he waits at the threshold until God calls. Second, the willingness: when the call comes, Moses enters the cloud, walking into what looked from below like devouring fire, to be with God. Drawing near to God required both patience to wait and courage to go where his glory was.

Meeting with God is rarely instant or casual. Sometimes there is a waiting, a lingering at the threshold before he speaks, and it asks patience of us. And drawing near to his holiness is a weighty thing, not to be approached carelessly. Yet the invitation stands: God calls us up into his presence. Through Christ you can enter the cloud without being consumed, welcomed into the very glory Moses approached. Be willing both to wait for God and to draw near when he calls.

Lord, Moses waited at the threshold and then entered the cloud to be with you, patient enough to wait and willing to draw near to your glory. Give me both that patience and that courage. Teach me to wait when you are silent and to come near when you call, and thank you that through Christ I can enter your presence and not be consumed. Draw me up to yourself. Amen.