Exodus 24:12-18 (NRSV)
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Verse 12The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." Verse 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. Verse 14To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them." Verse 15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. Verse 16The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Verse 17Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Verse 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Devotion
The season of Epiphany began with the child Jesus revealed as king to three foreign wise men. Now, the season of Epiphany concludes with a transfigured Jesus revealed as God’s Son to three local fishermen. Throughout this season, Christ’s image was revealed as light to the world. Many of us considered how God might reveal Christ’s light through our congregations’ missions. Some of us contemplated Christ’s many images revealed in scriptures, which ones impact us most, and how we share them with our neighbors.
From the mountain’s base, the Israelites initially saw God’s image as a dense cloud. Sometimes as I struggle up life’s “mountains,” I let worries’ clouds engulf me. Then I see God’s image as clouded and unclear. At other times I see God’s image blazing brightly and I know God’s glorious presence as revealed through Christ’s light.
Today, which of God’s images—clouded and unclear or blazing brightly—are you seeing and sharing?
Prayer
God who is in both the dense cloud and blazing fire, remind us of your presence when we fail to recognize your image. Help us to clearly see and share the glory of your love revealed in Christ, light to the world. Amen.