Where can grace be found?
Hello Bride of Christ,
Lately, I have found myself feeling cornered in, pressed down, and without foresight. There are many decisions to be made but not enough clarity of thought or information to come to a resolution. There is however a lot of noise and loud voices on the news, radio, social media, and corporate emails trying to push their agendas. Then there are life's demands. These demands do not cease because I cannot make a decision. The earth continues to go round the sun causing days and weeks to fly by. Thankfully I am not the first or the last person to experience these feelings. And neither are you.
Today's scripture found in the book of Exodus chapter 33. God gives us first row seats to listen and see His conversation with Moses. Pause here to read the chapter.
"Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight." Exodus 33:13
Can you relate to Moses' cry out to God asking for grace, this favor with God that will allow you to feel safe and steady because you know that He is with you? Asking for an assurance that He is right by your side or that you are in His eye shot? We often cry out like Moses. We remind God of His promises, as if He ever forgets. Like God does with us, He reassures Moses "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14) "I will also do this thing you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." (Exodus 33:17)
Although God's grace was with Moses this entire time, for God met with Moses often and spoke to Moses as one speaks with a friend, it was not until Moses was placed in a specific place that he noticed he had found grace in God's sight.
Where did Moses find God's grace and recognize it?
'And the Lord said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."' (Exodus 33:21 - 23)
Bride of Christ, it was not until Moses was in the cleft of the rock that he felt and recognized God's grace. It was not until Moses was in a tight little spot between a rock and a hard place. It was not until Moses was in complete darkness for the Lord's hand covered Him limiting His ability to see. It was not until Moses was pinned with his back up against a wall. It was not until Moses had no other place to go or another choice to make. This is when he experienced and recognized great marvelous grace. As soon as Moses settled into this cleft and stood upon the rock, God then took His hand away and allowed Moses to see His back. May this be a lesson to us all, for us to stand on the rock of Jesus and back ourselves up against the wall and allow the hand of God to cover us because once we can see clearly again we will see our Lord! If you are feeling pressed, standing still in darkness, lacking of clarity, or uncomfortable, may you be able to recognize you have found grace in the sight of the Lord and ready yourself to see the Lord at work in your life.
