The Presence of God

• Third Sunday of Lent
with Exodus 33:12-23
Moses and God talk, Moses asks to see God’s glory

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• Current Bible reading plan, Exodus 29-36 important section

• Yesterday there was a wedding in the sanctuary (a renewal of vows, really). How can you tell? Look at all the decorations!

After high school I traveled to Germany. It was 1990, just half a year after fall of the Berlin Wall. Crossing into East Berlin felt heavy, almost black and white. About that time there was a commercial on TV, dingy rowhouses, one bright and shiny: Ajax was here. Ajax. Stronger than dirt. Just like that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7rSmhEhlLY

• God be with you. God is with me.
What does that mean? How do you know?

• Exodus Chapter 32 tells about the golden calf. In chapter 33 God tells Moses you’re on your own. We read today that Moses requests God to accompany, and God agrees to. Moses asks to see God’s glory. God agrees: I will pass by you, and I will declare my name. That actually comes to be in Chap 34, followed by God initiating covenant.

The result of Moses being in the presence of God:
Moses’ face shines.

There should be something about us
because we've been in the presence of God.

• Yesterday at the renewal of vows, Annica’s daughter Tracee gave an emotional speech about the man her mother met and married twenty years ago, and what that man (David) meant to the family (Annica was 12)... Imagine depth of emotion/power at presence of God.

We hide from one another. We hide from God.

• As Moses, invite and practice presence of God.There should be something about us
because we've been in the presence of God.

• Hymn 361 Rock of Ages

Exodus 33:12-23 (NRSV)

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ ¹³ Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” ¹⁴ He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” ¹⁵ And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. ¹⁶ For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” ¹⁸ Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” ¹⁹ And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” ²¹ And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; ²² and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; ²³ then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”  ò