Mon.’s Devo - God’s Darkness

Read Ex. 20:18-21 The people saw this great display of God’s power and were afraid and retreated. They didn’t realize God had brought his throne to earth. In Revelations 4:5 John is describing the throne and here is what he says: “5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” They actually heard God speak these commandments and it scared them so much they told Moses to tell God not to do that again. They wanted God to speak to Moses and let him tell them what God wanted to say. Moses tried to explain that God did this so that they would have a healthy fear of him and what he said so they wouldn’t sin. So the people stood far off and Moses entered into the thick darkness where God was. What a great illustration of the different kinds of men. The people stood for the masses of Christianity. They want to follow God but not close enough to where it gets uncomfortable or supernatural. Moses stood for the remnant that will follow God into the darkness of his presence, not knowing if they will return or not. This same thick darkness of God’s presence is talked about in other places. 2 Sam. 22:8-10 says “ 8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. 9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.” This whole chapter is repeated word for word in Ps. 18. I studied this when I was asking God what happened on the cross during that darkness. I think God was showing me that God clothed himself in darkness and came down and comforted Jesus on the cross. It was when it turned light that Jesus said, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” I don’t think God ever forsook Jesus, I do think that his tangible presence was lifted and Jesus felt it and responded to it. Lord, we want to be the ones who walk through the darkness of your presence even when it is scary.