Preparing for Christmas and to sell our house has kept me busy the last few weeks! I am thankful that I am finally writing another post. Thank you readers, for your patience!
During breakfast, my little brother and I listened to Exodus 33-34 on BibleGateway's audio Bible. I was awestruck at the glory of the LORD (who God is) as revealed in this passage. Recent struggles with sin, and God's gracious providing of victory through faith in Christ were fresh in my mind. Part of the struggle was, "How could God be so patient, gracious, merciful and compassionate (not to mention loving) towards me? I fail. I know He is faithful. I know He is just and holy." It is in these prideful thoughts that the Lord, by His Spirit through the Word, gives His grace: "...the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Cor. 4:4).
This leads to another reality that struck me: God's interaction with His people in the Old Testament as compared with the New Testament. The New Covenant is totally "new" (unheard of), because of Jesus Christ. I think of Hebrews and the focus there on Jesus being better than old way of doing things. In Exodus we see Moses interceding on behalf of Israel. In the New Testament (Romans 8 and Hebrews), we see Jesus' High Priestly ministry.
After looking over Exodus 32-34 (I highly recommend you read this passage), I read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18:
7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?
9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.
11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
12 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
13 and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.
14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
To tie this up, let's go to John 1:14-18:
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ”
16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
What is our response? Worship and thanks to Yahweh!
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (2 Co. 4:4, 2 Co 3:7–18, Jn 1:14–18). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
