Thursday, February 28, 2002
Dear Family:
It has been said, "It is lonely at the top." In recent days we have seen it with the officers of Enron as they have gone before congress to explain how such a company with such talent and money could lose it all and go down the tube. Here was one of the largest companies in the world and suddenly they are broke. What happened? How can it happen?
Moses found himself the leader of a relatively small group of people but one who God had said would become a great nation. Moses has been selected by God to be the leader, the man, the guy at the top. Like many top men and leaders today, we see Moses complaining. The Children of Israel had complained so much that now Moses is also complaining. Or is it the other way around? "You have given me this job, now who is going to help me get it done?" Every time God asked Moses to do something, Moses came back with a negative remark. Here is a man who has seen God, talked to him as a man does his friend and now once again he is saying, "Who is going to go with me? I can't do this alone, God."
This is utterly amazing to me! Each time, God has told Moses what to do and how to do it. God has assured him that He will be with him to make it possible. He has told Moses, I will speak for you, I will send a light by night and a cloud by day, I will Make Aaron your voice, I will give you the men to build the tabernacle, the arc of the covenant. I will give these men knowledge, wisdom and understanding to be able to do what I want done. Yet, Moses is again asking, who is going to help me this time?
Not only does Moses question God he also tries to put pressure on God. He reminds God what God has said. That is nervy. Moses says, you said to me "I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight." Notice that Moses is pointing out to God what God had said to Moses to give Moses confidence and assurance. What is wrong with this guy? He just doesn't get it. Moses continues, "Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people". At least, Moses knows the right thing to ask for, show me your way that I may know you, show me you grace, and consider that this nation is thy people. This sounds like a prayer we should all be praying. But, God has already told Moses these things. Furthermore, He has told us the same. Why do we, like Moses, question God when He has told us, shown us and even done it for us? Why do we not trust Him? Simple, really. We don't really know Him. Just like Moses, we have been with God, we have been with his people, we have seen His work, we have prayed to Him but we don't know Him.
Exod 33:12-23 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back (KJV)
How patient and loving our God is. Moses had been so blind; yet, God didn't call him stupid, dummy or any of the cliches we use. He simply said I will go with you and I will do everything you have asked including showing you my glory. I will even create a place for you to stand while you observe my glory. I will shield you from harm with my hand and remove it only to let you see my glory.
Have you ever needed to be protected because you got too close to God? God wants us to know Him and get close to Him. What is our problem? Could it be that we don't really want to be that close? Could it be that we are afraid that we would have to change or quit doing something? Is it that we don't believe He can protect us? Why do we not get that close to God? Why? We simply do not know Him well enough to want to be that close. That's it, isn't it? We just don't want to be there because we don't know what it would be like. If we ever got that close to God, we wouldn't be able to wait to get there again and again. Christ prayed that we would know God and Himself:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV)
Paul prayed for us to know Jesus and the Father of glory and that the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him would be given to us. Again he prayed that we would walk worthy of it.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (KJV)
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (KJV)
Peter instructed us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
)2 Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (KJV
We can get to know God! And through his grace he makes it possible. If we honestly, with our whole heart look for him He will be there waiting each and every time. Look for him in the word, in other people and in your prayers
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Love ya,
Dad, Dad II, Mr. T and Chuck
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