Moses’s Radiant Face
Open Your Bible
Exodus 34:1-35, John 14:8-11, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
BY Kasey Moffett
The alarm clock startled me awake at 6:00 AM. This was an optimistic time. I grasped for my phone on the nightstand and hit the snooze button. I laid there and wondered, “How long do I have until the baby and big kid are awake?” I think to myself; today will be different.
Today will be the day I don’t run out of patience with my seven-year-old. Today will be the day I will have a good attitude. Today will be the day I show extra grace to my husband. Today will be the day I pray more. Read more. Serve more. Exercise more. Do more. Be more.
When my eyes open on a Monday, these thoughts run especially rampant. Do you recognize it? The striving that happens in our minds after being awake mere seconds. I wonder if Moses felt this way. The overwhelm must have mounted on his shoulders each day as he led millions of grumbling people while being a sinner himself.
Moses was asked to go up to the mountain again after the failure of his nation. Did he wonder how God would respond? Did he think this would be the time God finally realized His mistake in choosing him?
No one but Moses was allowed near the mountain. Not even the animals. God is set apart, holy. Untouchable. And yet, He drew Moses near. He relented the disaster that would have been justified to unleash on the Israelites.
He could have, at the least, turned a cold shoulder. Instead, He laid a warm blanket of truth and glory over Moses:
“The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin.” —Exodus 34:6–7
Moses left that mountain changed. He didn’t realize it, but “the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the LORD” (v.29).
We are beneficiaries of the new covenant and have direct access to Jesus. Which means we have also seen the Father (John 14:9).
When we fail again and again, where does that leave us? When each day feels like a repeat of the day before. When we bore a hole in the Scripture memory index card on the windowsill while washing dishes. When we offer up ragged, short prayers of help and thanksgiving. When we apologize to our kids again after reacting in anger.
What should we, as sinners, expect after an interaction with a holy God? We can expect to be changed. He is transforming us from one degree of glory to another; our sanctification is not a burden to Him. Our slow growth does not disappoint Him.
46 thoughts on "Moses’s Radiant Face"
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Day 31 & 32 have really resonated with me! Todays reading made me think of the way I parent my children. “God could have relented and turned a cold shoulder, but INSTEAD he laid a warm blanket of truth and glory over Moses… YET he drew Moses near.” I pray constantly (it feels like), for changes in my parenting. To parent out of a place of love and not anger, yet I fail and apologize every day like Kasey wrote. But I “can expect to be changed.” My “slow growth does not disappoint Him.” Praise Jesus.
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I needed this so much today!
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I love this reminder. “We can expect to be changed by God.” I can’t change, but He can change me. That is a comforting and restful thought. ❤️
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Great message here. I shared with someone saying it is DAY 30, but actually it is DAY 32 since the real Day 30 was The Golden Calf. I was very confused for a bit. Not complaining, just pointing out a correction when archived. Indeed, I am so very grateful for the whole team who edits, writes, researches, produces, photographs, plan, and prays over SRT. Over many years the plans (and podcasts) have been a great encouragement and challenged me to grow in my faith journey. THANK YOU, SRT
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What should we, as sinners, expect after an interaction with a holy God? We can expect to be changed. He is transforming us from one degree of glory to another; our sanctification is not a burden to Him. Our slow growth does not disappoint Him.
I’m so thankful for this! I try and yet fail time and time again. I lose my patience. I become judgmental, I am critical. My growth feels so slow. For 30 years I have been trying to overcome these character flaws and yet I still mess up. I’m thankful for a God that is forgiving and still looks at me with a love we cannot fathom.
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