I'm not sure how many times I have read through the Bible. I have been using the same Bible study schedule for years now, which takes me through the entire Old Testament once, the New Testament once, the Psalms twice, and Proverbs twelve times in one year.
This morning I was reading Exodus 24 when I came upon this phenomena; "Then Moses went up, also Arron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank" (v.9-11).
There are a few things that really stick out in these verses. A few chapters back we see that Moses was the only one who was allowed to go up the mountain, "Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death." Moses would go up the mountain alone to meet with God and to relay God's instructions to the people below.
But in chapter 24 we see Moses going up with Arron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders.
Not only that, but it says that "they saw the God of Israel" (v.10), "they saw God" (v.11). It mentions "His feet" and "His hand." This apparently was a manifestation of God in some human form. Perhaps this was an early appearance of Jesus before His incarnation.
So what did they do when they saw God? "They ate and drank" (v.11). This was obviously a grand celebration as they basked in the presence of the living God. Can you imagine what that was like?
Jesus said that "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus was (is) the exact representation of God, because He was, and is, fully God. The God was was once seemingly distant in proximity to His people was now in their presence. What's even more amazing is that Jesus said in John 14:16-17, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth,whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you"
God Himself would take up residence in us. The God who thundered on the mountaintop and seemingly kept the people at a distance ( so that they would learn that God is holy), came in flesh to dwell among us. Now He dwells within us. This is simply an amazing reality. God with us. God within us. And one day we will all be gathered in His presence to celebrate the marriage supper of the lamb, basking in the presence of our Bridegroom (Revelation 19:6-8). What a mighty God we serve!
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