Exodus

Moses' life was completely transformed by his encounters with God. When he first met with God, Moses was nearly faithless. God told him he would lead and speak but Moses didn't believe he could do it. Even through the plagues, Moses was still at the whims of the Israelites. When they complained to him, he complained to God. When they feared death, he feared death. But somewhere during that process we see Moses transformed to the point where in Chapter 14 he can respond to the people's cry of fear with courage.

(10)As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help. (11)They said to Moses: "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? (12)Isn't this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (13)But Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and see the LORD's salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. (14)The LORD will fight for you; you must be quiet." (14:10-14 HCSB)

Through the rest of the book, God is raising up His people in His ways. He provides for them (16-17:7) and protects them (17:8-15) and teaches them how to be His people (18:17-23, 20:1-17, 21-23, and others). God also shows the power of His Presence, the wonder of His Holiness, and the fullness of His Glory (19:16-19, 20:18-21, and 33:18-34:35). And among all of this, He builds an intimate relationship with Moses. Moses was able to talk with God "just as a man speaks with his friend" (33:11 HCSB).

It's easy to look at the teaching and the friendship as separate events. Over here, we have the god of the commandments and the law and the statutes. Then, separately, somewhere else, we have the god of relationship and mercy and grace. But we don't have a god. We have God and He has us. He is Loving and Just. He is Jealous and Merciful, Powerful and Graceful. And He is all of these in One (and Three) at once. This is confusing. It makes sense that the world goes crazy when He shows up (19:16-19), He is a lot of Presence to deal with. He is so unlike anything we have ever known or can ever imagine that seeing His face would kill us (33:20). What does that even mean? Seeing God's face? We talk about it a lot. Every so often someone will encourage me or someone around me to "seek God's face." Is that a death wish? What do we expect to find in seeking God's face? I don't think God ever encourages people to seek His face (if I'm wrong, this reading plan will show me that soon enough). Maybe, instead, we should seek His friendship/law (I think we can call that "covenant relationship"). That's what Moses did. He was guided in covenant relationship with God. He was given laws and commandments and friendship time with God and through all of this, Moses' life was completely transformed. In reading through Exodus, that is what I see. I see a people being transformed; being brought out of an old life and into a new life through covenant relationship with YHWH, the One Who Is.