READ EXODUS 24
GO DEEPER
Exodus 24 describes Moses making his sixth ascent up Mount Sinai to confirm the covenant between God and the Israelites. This time, Moses, along with around 75 others, encounters the Lord God. The Lord God then calls Moses to ascend even further up the mountain to receive the stone tablets with the commandments engraved on them. In verse 18, it is stated that "Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat [went] him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights."
When Moses begins his ascent up the mountain, it has been more than a year since the Israelites left Egypt. Now, he is gone for an additional 40 days and 40 nights. One can only imagine the anxiety and impatience they experienced during this waiting period.
While we know the exact duration of the wait, the Israelites did not have this luxury. They were not informed, “Just wait for about 40 days.” Instead, they likely pondered questions such as, “When will our leader return?” “Who will guide us to the land promised by God?” “Has God forsaken us?” These are questions that may have mirrored our uncertainties during times of waiting.
We can all relate to waiting for something uncertain without knowing how long it will take. It could be waiting for a prayer to be answered, a relationship to be mended, a healing process, a change in circumstances, or seeing a loved one transform.
In these moments of waiting, it is crucial to turn toward God rather than away from Him and keep in mind the comforting words of scripture. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost [Spirit]. (Romans 15:13).
QUESTIONS
1.
While waiting, how do you maintain perseverance and patience? How do you avoid becoming indifferent and complaining?
2. Do you opt for satisfaction during the waiting period, or do you tend to feel frustrated and express discontent?
3. Are you entrusting the outcome to God, or are you attempting to control the situation on your own?