2-18-15. Exodus 16:10-12. Gather In Unity And In Prayerful Expectation- my devotion
2-18-15. Exodus 16:10-12. Gather In Unity And In Prayerful Expectation- my devotional
Exodus 16:10-12 Kevin E. Jesmer 2-18-15
Key Verse 16:10,
“While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.” (NIV)
God wants his people to gather in faith, in unity, in grace and in expectation. Then they will see the glory of God. Look at Exodus 16:10-12, “While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. 11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” (NIV)
Recall in verses 6-9 how Moses and Aaron told the Israelites that the Lord has heard their grumbling and that they must gather before the Lord and the Lord will reveal himself to them. These spiritual leaders spoke in faith. They knew God. They knew that he was listening to them and concerned and they knew that he would reveal his glory to the people. This required faith, on the part of Moses and Aaron, to make such bold statements. It shows that disciples of Jesus should pray and minister believing that the living, Risen Christ will work among his people. We need some spiritual confidence. Pray believing. Speak believing. God is with you.
The people were to gather together before the Lord. (Verse 10). The entire community of the children of Israel would present themselves as a whole congregation to the Lord. There is something about a whole congregation, coming together in faith and expectation. God is there among his people. Jesus is called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” God is happy to be among his people and he provides his grace in order to make this happen. Normally the holy God can not dwell among sinners. But he can do this when he forgive sinners of their sins. It was God’s grace that he was planning to appear to a community of people who were grumbling against him. He forgave them, because he loves them.
God did appear and overwhelmed them by appearing in a cloud of glory. It is more than likely that the cloud that was leading the Israelites all along, took on a new appearance of even greater glory. The point is that God showed up. He revealed his glory to the people in very unique and personal way. God did this many times. Think about the time in the Upper Room when the early believers gathered to pray. God showed up with the sound of a violent wind and fire that came to rest on their heads. The believers were enabled to speak in other tongues. He revealed his glory to the new church. God is still showing up and revealing his glory in very personal ways. It is possible because of his grace of forgiveness. He does wonderful things when his people come together in prayerful expectation provided by the grace of God.
I thank God for our Canada FN mission prayer meetings. We are gathering to pray every two weeks. A fellowship in Canada is gathering every week to pray. A homebound believer is faithfully and intensely praying for the mission. Who are we, but groups of forgiven sinners? We stand in our faith and in God’s presence only by the grace of Jesus. It is this grace that allows us to pray believing. God is revealing his glory among us. This mission has progressed in so many miraculous ways. It has gone from a hopeful prayer to the actual sending of two missionary families in two years. To me this is unheard of. He will continue to reveal his glory among us. God is doing wonderful things among his people who gather in prayerful expectation. He is helping us to know that he is the Lord.
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