Israel’s sin with the golden calf was a serious one. The stone tablets were broken; the covenant was broken. It meant that God would no longer dwell among his people but instead, Moses had to move the Tent of Meeting (for the Tabernacle was not yet built) out of the camp, as a symbol that God’s presence was now more removed from the people.

This change was unsettling for the people. It was also unsettling for Moses. He needed assurances from the Lord that God himself would lead the nation into the wilderness – Moses could not face the prospect of taking the people into the promised land if the Lord was not with him.

Moses also needed assurances that he was still God’s chosen leader of the people, and that the people were still God’s chosen people. God reassured Moses about all of these things and, even more, made arrangements to give Moses a greater revelation of himself than he had ever had before.

God allows Moses to experience his goodness, hear his name, and stand in his glory, although God’s hand will protect him. What Moses will gain is a greater understanding not of what God looks like, but of who he is and his nature. The relationship between Moses and God was special, but a greater understanding of the nature of the Lord is something that all Christians, and especially all in leadership, should desire.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13). Let us be seekers of the Lord because he is willing to be found.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH