In the cleft of the rock

12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

 17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:12-23 NIV)

That passage from Exodus has always intrigued me.  I love the thought of God putting Moses in a cleft in the rock and covering him with His hand. 

Moses is whining a little bit actually.  “You told me to lead these people.  But you haven’t told me who is going with me…how will I know that You are with me?? How am I going to pull this one off? You say that you are pleased with me…if you are you need to show me!!”  God is very patient and kind with Moses…”I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” God, again, provides the reassurance that Moses wanted.  God, again, confirms His power to Moses.  God, again, tells Moses that He will be with him.  God shelters Moses with His hand. 

I know God constantly works to reassure my heart, repeatedly confirms His power, reiterates that He will be with me, and puts me in a safe place where He shelters me with His hand. 

Thank you Lord, for your enduring and unfailing love.

Remembering….

12/12/12.  That was my Grandad’s birth date. Any of you who have read my blog for a little bit realize that I have a quirky love of patterns in numbers…and a deep abiding love for my Grandad. 

Jackson Liggett Fisher was born into a large family.  Lots of brothers (he had a twin brother matter of fact) and some (three, I think) sisters.  Their mother died when he was pretty young but he was old enough to take on a lot of responsibility.  He did a lot of the cooking for his family.  I don’t know all the particulars about his childhood…I wish I knew more.  I know that I have a picture of my great-grandad (Henry) holding his Bible in front of a little church building. I know that my granddad (Jack) loved God and spent a significant amount of time and energy serving God and the people of God in Sudan.  I know that he taught me how to live like Jesus.

Jack was about 6’4” and most of that height was legs.  He was soft spoken and had the most wonderful gray-blue eyes.  He adored me and the feeling was mutual. We shared secret life-savers before supper (quick don’t let Grandma see!!).  We shared his chair in the living room until I was too big to fit in there beside him. We shared a pickup bench-seat “herding” cattle in the pasture. (that was an experience!!)  I always sat to his right when the family got together for a meal.  And he ALWAYS gave me a hard time about green beans.  I hated the things.  I would pass the bowl on to him without taking any.  He would say “No green beans? Not even one?” So I would take the fewest that I could get on the spoon (usually three) just to make him happy.  And that was our long running joke….me and my three green beans.

He made his living as a farmer.  But he did so much more than that.  He loved to build things and was a great carpenter.  He built houses…barns…carports and furniture.  I have a little cupboard…probably about 2 feet tall…that he made me for my toy dishes when I was young.  I have a double door hutch that he built for me when I was in college.  I have a jewelry box that’s almost as big as the toy cupboard.  I love those things, because I know he made them for me…with me specifically in mind as he cut each board and nailed each nail.

He survived a bout with tuberculosis. He spent a good stretch of time in a sanatorium away from his home, his wife and kids…trying to heal from that disease. My dad’s big brother (who was probably about 5 years old at this time) had to stay there as well.  My dad was very young during that time, but has memories of standing at a chain link fence, looking through at his older brother and his daddy.  He wasn’t allowed to be with them for fear that he would get TB as well.  Jack lost part of his lung to that, but was back working on the farm as soon as he could be. 

He died in October 1986 from lung cancer that spread to other places.  I feel that loss as much today as I did all those years ago.  But I know that one of these days I will see him again.  And he will not be weakened from cancer…because Jesus wins the victory over death. I Corinthians 15: 54-57:

 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

 55“Where, O death, is your victory?
      Where, O death, is your sting?”

 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Thank you heavenly Father for letting me have those years with my grandad. Thank you for your salvation and victory over death through Jesus so that I will be with him again one of these days! 

But WHY?

One of the things I am enjoying while reading through the Word right now is when God tells us to do something, and then gives us some follow up with it.  He does not have to.  He could just tell us….He said it, that settles it.. sort of thing. And would that be enough? Of course. We should accept God’s word and obey Him. Period.  Afterall, we are but men; He is God.  But, being a good Father,  He often tells us “do this because” or ”do this so that I can…”  Proverbs 3 is one example of this.  Here is our Heavenly Father speaking through an earthly father to his son….the commandment and the promise that follows. 

Proverbs 3: 1-10 (NIV)

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
       but keep my commands in your heart, 

2 for they will prolong your life many years
       and bring you prosperity.

 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
       bind them around your neck,
       write them on the tablet of your heart.

 4 Then you will win favor and a good name
       in the sight of God and man.

 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

 6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.

 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
       fear the LORD and shun evil.

 8 This will bring health to your body
       and nourishment to your bones.

 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
       with the firstfruits of all your crops;

 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
       and your vats will brim over with new wine.

I guess I was reading over this because of my English assignment (see previous post) looking for things to write to my son.  Advice with the practical application explained.  Trust the Lord, and find clear paths.  Shun evil and have a healthy body.  The entire book is chock full of these commands/promises. 

I know that as a child I usually had a better attitude at least if I understood the “why” of the rules just a little bit.   And my own children, when they were very young, listened a little better if I had an explanation.  “Because I said so” wasn’t always the most effective approach, although I confess to using it on a few occassions!!  I am like a child when it comes to the ways of God, so I need the “why” sometimes, in order to adjust my attitude!! I have to do my part, so that He can bless me.  It’s not the other way around is it?