Exodus 34:27-35 Those who are born again project the full spectrum of God’s light, full of truth and grace

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.

Background

Moses received from God the divine mandate to establish His kingdom through Israel. The Law was given as the first foundation which undergirds the kingdom of God. The Law functions in setting moral standards and by deterring the people from sin and rebellion. As we know it, Israel was destroyed because the Law could not stop the people from transgressing God’s Law. The Law failed because the heart of man was exceedingly evil. God abolished the Law of punishment by instituting a new way; the way of Jesus that destroys the sinful tendencies of man so that man may walk in the truth.

Jesus came not to enforce the Law by punishing the people for their sins, but to deliver them from bondage of sin. The Law merely sets the standard and metes out the appropriate punishment in the event of disobedience. But Jesus reaches out to humanity not with the threat of punishment but with grace and healing. Therefore, believers must be filled with the Spirit of Christ, of truth and grace so that we may heal the people and deliver them from bondage. Therefore, we must cease from judging others. But to heal and inspire them towards repentance and truth. Today’s devotion teaches us: Those who are born again project the full spectrum of God’s light, full of truth and grace.

Observation

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”

Moses must be in a state of oneness with God to speak to Him and receive the words of the covenant. The state of fasting helps to put aside one’s concerns of life to be one with God; to be united with Him in spirit, soul and body. For 40 days, Moses was in a continual state of fasting and oneness with God. During which, God spoke to Moses and gave him the words of the covenant and the Ten Commandments.

It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai…, that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.

The light on Moses’s face is the visible manifestation of God’s power upon him. For God has made Moses His mouthpiece and has given him authority to rule on God’s behalf. Thus, Moses wielded God’s authority with an iron hand. However, the people including Aaron dared not come near to Moses because they were afraid of being punished should they fail to live up to the commandments. Although Moses functioned as God’s proxy to rule Israel, he could not mirror the full spectrum of God’s virtues and attributes. Because Moses’s light comprises a limited spectrum of God’s light, he was not able to help the people overcome their sinful tendencies.

Every time Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove his veil. And every time he addressed the people, he would also let the people see the light on his face so that they might fear God and be reminded of divine retribution should they disobey.

Truth

To receive divine wisdom to succeed, we must be one with God by fasting in the Spirit.

To receive the law from God, Moses must achieve oneness with Him in spirit, soul and body. For that purpose, Moses went without food and water for 40 days. However, fasting is more than just bodily abstinence from food and drink. The process of fasting kills our preoccupation with the cares of life so that we may be attuned to the things in the Spirit. Many people are not able to converse with God clearly and deeply because they cannot engage God at an intimate and personal level. Their minds are often filled with the cares and busyness of life. And their senses have become dull to the Spirit, being distracted by things of no lasting value. Fasting shuts down worldly distractions while retraining our appetite and senses towards the things of the Spirit. Many may exhibit a zeal for biblical knowledge and ministry work. But because their senses are dull, they cannot engage God or His angels with their senses. However, those who fast, who attune their senses and desire towards the things of the Spirit will experience the following:

• A clarity in recognising and understanding God’s thoughts.
• Their senses become attuned to the Spirit where God becomes real at a personal level.
• A sense of oneness, comfort and favour with God in their spirit.

That said, many fasted for the wrong reasons supposing that will motivate God to fulfil their fleshly desires. For such are merely starving themselves while their appetites burn with desire. Indeed, abstinence from food does not automatically translate into oneness with God.

On the other hand, there are those who live to fulfil God’s will one day at a time. Such are in a state of fasting all their lives, having trained their spirits, their minds and senses to commune with God while going through the daily routine of working, eating and resting. Therefore, at all times, we must endeavour to fast in the Spirit. In so doing, we will continue to grow in wisdom and power to accomplish our purposes.

Those who are born again project the full spectrum of God’s light, full of truth and grace.

After Moses fasted for 40 days, he returned with the Law. And the people saw the light on his face, the glaring light of justice and power and ran from him. After Jesus fasted for 40 days, He went to the people and “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” (Matthew 4:16). With the full spectrum of God’s light which is not glaring or ominous, Jesus drew the people towards Him. Through the light of unconditional love, He gathered the disciples, preached the gospel and healed the sick. Jesus’s light is more superior than that of Moses’s because:

• Unlike Moses, Jesus does not use punishment to compel people to conform to the Law. Instead, He heals their wounds, strengthens them with grace and walks with them in the way of the truth.
• Jesus projects the full spectrum of God’s light, the light of divine power and love. Although Moses is faithful, he could not project the full spectrum of God’s light.

John 1:17-18 says,

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Moses, did not see God, but he received the Law and gave it to the people. Because he did not see God, he did not possess the full spectrum of God’s Light. Hence, he could not transform the people and often complained about their rebellious tendencies. But Jesus, who saw God projected the full spectrum of God’s light. Thus, He is able to help people regenerate their hearts and to overcome their weaknesses. And He walked with the people and never once complained about them.

But those who are filled with the Law often complain bitterly about people’s imperfections. They often say, “This person is not right and must be stopped.” Such cannot empathise with people or help them overcome their weaknesses. Like Moses, such individuals project a limited spectrum of God’s light, the light of lawfulness and justice. But those who are born again project the full spectrum of God’s light; the light of God’s power, truth and compassion. They are not judgmental and are ever encouraging while strengthening others to walk in the truth.

Application

Have you been busy with work and religious activities but lack a sense of oneness with God? Perhaps, you have been living according to your plans and desires. Commit yourself to read the bible daily. Endeavour to see God. And be one with Him in your spirit by denying your desires daily.

Are you projecting the light of Moses or the light of Christ? Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. So that you may minister to others through humility, grace and truth. Make a decision to be born again and let the full spectrum of God’s light to shine through. 

Dear Lord, I seek to be one with you in my spirit. Train my senses to engage You and the angels in the heavenly realm. Fill me with Your grace and truth so that I may project the full spectrum of God’s light. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.