March 08, 2017
Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him. (Numbers 7:89)
In our familiarity with the Scripture and our distance from the actual events, we can lose the magnitude of what the Bible is saying to us.
Pause and read the passage above. In fact, read it several times and ask the God of the universe to help you see what actually happened. And then, read it again and again, asking God what this means for you.
Let this one verse of Spirit-breathed Scripture, active and alive, explode in your understanding. Hear His voice to you behind the printed words.
WE CAN APPROACH GOD
"Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him" the Bible tells us. Why was the tabernacle also called the tent of meeting? It was not a meeting with the congregation. It was a meeting place between God and man.
It was clear that Moses went to this specific place for that purpose: "to speak with Him." Think of this. Since the Garden, God has made it possible for us to walk with Him in the cool of the day and commune with Him.
All through the Old Testament record we see this continual exchange between God and man. Abraham heard God's voice, as did Moses, and Joshua, and David and all the prophets.
Joseph and Mary both heard Him, as did Peter and later, Paul. All the way to John in the book that is named for this type of communion, (the Revelation), which says to us, "Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."
Take the whole counsel of Scripture and you will a running record of communication. God speaks, and we can hear Him speak! And in His voice, we hear all we need for direction, comfort, encouragement, life, and light.
AT THE MERCY SEAT
It is no accident that Moses was directed to the one place where this communication happened. The mercy seat, which represented the action that must take place for us to approach God. It was a place that spoke of the great Sacrifice that would occur to provide for our communion. And a place where God would extend His mercy making it possible for us to approach Him.
Later, the writer of Hebrews would remind us of our Great High Priest who bids us "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
This should humble us. We do not come in arrogance, but in humble confidence in Christ's atonement for our sin and His gracious invitation for us to approach with peace facing God. We can enter even now into the tent of meeting and hear His voice. We can even pray without ceasing.
AND WAIT FOR HIS VOICE
Then we see Moses, as others approach him for direction, making these kinds of statements:
"Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you." Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying ..." (Numbers 9:8-9)
This is a picture of our posture. We are to approach and listen. We are to move only at His initiation and instruction. We are to hear Him.
If He finds us listening, we will find Him speaking. And then we will have the glorious privilege of being led by the Great Shepherd of the sheep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will go before us. We will hear a Voice behind us saying "This is the way; walk ye in it."
And the sacred transaction between man and God will occur once again.
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