Sep2 Written by:Nathan Williams
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
When Moses went up on the mountain to converse with God, his face began to shine so brilliantly no one could look at his face. So Moses put a veil over his face so people could look at him. Paul says here in 2 Cor. 3:13 another purpose of the veil was so the sons of Israel would not see the glory fading away. What glory to be in the presence of God! Moses had that coveted opportunity. Who was allowed to be in God's presence like Moses was? But Moses had to come down from the mountain and deal with the sinful and rebellious Israelites. I'm sure he would have much rather stayed up on the mountain enjoying God.
Moses was a type of Jesus Christ. Jesus came down from heaven (the spiritual mountain) to walk among a sinful and rebellious people. I'm sure He would have much rather stayed in the company of His Father. But, unlike Moses, when Jesus came down, His glory did not fade away because He was the very image of the Father! He was deity in the flesh.
Paul used the analogy of the glory which passed away under the old covenant to contrast with the glory of the new covenant. There were still some who were clinging to the old covenant. Paul said, "but to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away" (3:15-16). True glory is obscured to all who cling to ANYTHING but Jesus Christ, even those clinging to the Law of Moses. Only when one turns to the Lord Jesus Christ is the veil taken away and he can "with unveiled face" behold "as in a mirror the glory of the Lord" and be "transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (3:18).
Those in Christ Jesus have a glory that does not fade away! In fact, this glory will last through eternity. In a way, we enjoy a closer relationship with God even than what Moses enjoyed because, through Jesus, we are ALWAYS in the presence of our God!
May we glorify His name today,
Nathan
Tags: