A Pattern of God's Glorious Dwelling

I understand more of what Jesus spoke of in John Chapter 14 /15 aptly summarized by this verse: "14:23-Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."

I understand that this is not a completely new concept for God to express in His word. For centuries He promised, or performed, in consequence to obedience from faith, a glorious dwelling or abiding of His presence. Throughout John's gospel those who keep Christ's words are synonymous with those who truly believed. Those who received Christ for who He said He was, namely the Son of God, would also keep His word because they had first received / believed it. God's lavish response to love this obedient believer is by making His dwelling with them.

In Exodus chapter 40 a similar thing happens. Throughout the Chapter, Moses is said to have erected the tabernacle (literally "dwelling" or "tent") just as God had commanded Him. At the end of the chapter, following a triumphant statement that all was completed, "the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the (Z)glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."(Ex. 40:34). It abided there day and night for the 40 years of wandering because of Moses' obedience, and the people's from previous chapters. Moses and the people God had moved (see Ex. 35:22) had believed God's commands to be weighty and true enough to perform in fullness. God responded with lavish love to have his Glorious presence in a cloud by day or pillar of fire by night.

Now there are some major differences to these to glorious dwellings of God, generally that the dwelling for believers is much more full than that of Old Testament. I may delve into that more later. But the pattern of belief and then God's dwelling presence is the same.

Many times I forget the rich undeserved joy of having God's presence with me. Sometimes I forget He is there altogether. I miss so much rich fellowship and miss the production of that fellowship--the fruit of the Spirit. My prayer the last few days has simply been to remember God and all of His works--all that I know at least. And in remembering to hold tightly to Him.

Often left hanging, never out to dry

Exodus 15:22-27

My girlfriend and I have two months to wait until we see each other again. Long distance relationships are hard; One of the hardest parts is the waiting. In our culture of instant access and direct T.V., patience is not a virtue. Of course, in this world, it never was.

Whether you have everything or nothing, it is easy to grow impatient and distrusting. The Israelites had just come out of decades of slavery and oppression where they were forced to "live without". When they were finally freed from slavery and miraciously saved from the most powerful army in their acient world, they still had an impatient spirit. You don't learn patience just by experiencing hard times. My Grandma who lived through WW2 in Paris as teenager said "I've suffered enough in my life," or "I've already been through Hell." Her attitude made her bitter and resentful against many other hardships she experienced in the "promised land" of America.

I'm not knocking or those who have been through those times, which were much more horrific than my own.

Three days after they saw the most powerful army be destroyed without them lifting a finger, they start grumbling about their thirst. Now let it be granted, they had a real need. Three days journey in the wilderness with 600,000 men (not counting Women and children) can deplete water sources pretty quickly. A man can die of dehydration in one day without water hiking in extreme heat. At most, a man can't live without water for three days. So, delusional and exhausted they come to a spring of undrinkable bitter water.

Is this some kind sick joke, God? Are you up there laughing pretty hard now? Are you just going to leave us hanging in the wilderness to die of thirst? (Questions courtesy of conversations with a friend of mine)

God heals the waters and gives the command every Israelite and every person needs to hear in those trying times. "Give earnest attention to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight". He even promises, for their obedience, a greater provision then what they were grumbling about--no diseases, plagues, or judgments. "For I, the LORD, am your Healer." He's the one they needed the whole time and for the future. And He wouldn't leave them out to dry.

Then they stumble upon the anti-climatic and understatedly stunning scene. 12 clean springs of water, one for each tribe, and 70 date trees provide for all their needs for weeks!

Just one more day everybody....just wait one more day....