the Cleft (30 in 30)

the Cleft

Yesterday we visited a friend who is desperately ill. He is on a ventilator in the ICU in the hospital. His wish, as he has expressed it, is to 'finish well'. The nurses have commented that he is a kind man, and his wife told us that he had not complained one time. I would say that he is on the right track to finishing well!

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10 x 10 acrylic on watercolor paper

In contrast to that scene, the children of Israel in Exodus 32 - 33 quickly gave up on the One Who had rescued them over and over. Moses had been missing for 40 days (which, admittedly, is a really long time) and they gave up on him and on GOD. But Moses was with GOD, and I absolutely LOVE (and am a little jealous of) the relationship I can read about. You should definitely read Exodus 33 to see this interaction. 

But the part I am wanting to share is from Exodus 33:18-23 "Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

Oh, I want to see His glory, and I want Him to keep me in the cleft of the rock and cover me with His hand. Soon, my friend will see His glory. And my friend is in the cleft of the rock, covered by the hand of God Almighty.