As we have looked at Spiritual Superheroes, the relationship they enjoyed with God often varied. Abraham was reverent and trusting, Isaac was quiet but prayerful. Jacob was not in a good state, but never quit. Joseph was always faithful circumstances really did not matter.
Moses, however, was the most unique. He and God co-parented Israel. The Israelites were a bunch of scared but entitled people. They feared they would be abandoned, yet God dwelt among them. They feared starvation and dehydration, yet God met their needs daily. They feared they would be lost, But God led them everywhere. They feared they would be defeated, but God destroyed their enemies.
In the verses today, I can hear a parent’s tone–“I am going to get you to your inheritance…BUT, I am not going, because if I do, I will probably have to kill you!” The only thing more parent like would have been, “Don’t make me pull this Pillar of Smoke over!”
These people were a constant drain, and the glimpses of the conversations between Moses and God showed two folks that understood each other. God and Moses had each other’s back!
That is why the tent of meeting is so great. It had to be where God and Moses talked about the ridiculous stuff the Israelites pulled. I am sure they started many conversations with talk of plagues and death and ended with “I know but they are your people!” It only depended on the day to determine whether it was God or Moses saying that last phrase.
I often wonder if at the Mount of transfiguration, Jesus and Moses talked about the days in the wilderness. I can almost hear Moses tell Jesus, I know this is tough, Lord, But they are worth it! No one would know better than Moses.
I pray that I can have some “Tent of Meeting” conversations with God. I hope we can laugh at what a dunderhead I really am. I know I will be ashamed of many dumb decisions, but then God will say, “At least you did not make a golden calf at my feet when I was writing for you “do not make a graven image…”
I think we will be surprised at how real God is with us and how little really surprises Him. I think that is what helped Moses to be able to shepherd these folks for 40 years.
God Bless You
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.
The Tent of Meeting
7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Walking With God 