Day 7 โ Fifth ascent, entering the darkness
โ๐๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ, ๐๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ฌ ๐ค๐ญ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด.โ ๐๐น๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด 20:21 ๐๐๐๐
Iโm not sure about you, but if I climb a mountain once, it would be enough for me. A second time, maybe, yes, but more than that, I would really start complaining โ especially if it looks like Sinai at this point. But what trust did Moses have in the Lord to make another journey? Not just to reach the summit but into a dark cloud? The Hebrew describes the darkness as โ๐ฎฬ๐ฟ๐ฎฬ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฒ๐น (pronounced ๐ข๐ณ-๐ข๐ธ-๐ง๐ฆ๐ญ), meaning a thick darkness or gloom as of a lowering sky. It wasnโt just dark, like we would think of the darkness of night.
When I read this, I found it very contradictory to Jesus being the ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ญ๐ฅ. Why would God be in a cloud of darkness if there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5)? But our omnipresent God can be found anywhere. In dungeons and pits, in the belly of a whale, the grave, and your darkest moments. Sometimes God would have you walk into dark situations, inviting you into the midst of the cause to reveal His plan. This supernatural darkness was shielding Israel from His overwhelming holiness and divine presence. Still, within this darkness, God gave Moses instructions and regulations to follow: the proper use of altars, fair treatment of slaves, cases of personal injury, protection of property, social responsibility, call for justice, three annual feasts, and the promise of the Lordโs presence.
The first thing God teaches Israel is the proper use of altars. Today, we no longer use altars because we can come into Godโs presence under grace through our righteousness in Jesus Christ. Our prayers are offered as a sweet-smelling aroma to God as if they are placed on an altar before His throne. Our prayers allow us to step into the darkness where God calls us โ into His presence.
Pray with me: Father, thank You that You are omnipresent, and even if the situation looks dark, I trust that You are there. There is nowhere to hide from You. Give me the courage and boldness to step into the โฤrรขphel to hear your instructions and guidance. Amen.
Pastor Iriza
