When a soldier is deployed and gone for a period of time he can stay in touch with his loved ones virtually or through letters and phone calls. But he eagerly looks forward to the time when he can be rejoined with his loved ones, face to face.
This is how the Lord feels about us. Not only does He look forward to the appointed time of His return for His bride, but before then, He looks forward to those stolen moments with us when we truly encounter His heart and plans for us. In those meetings He gives clarity on how much He loves us. He also lovingly deals with our failures and what is keeping us stuck. Such encounters not only set us free, but release us into our destinies.
The bible is full of face to face encounters God had with His people. Moses had an encounter at the burning bush while tending the sheep. The woman at the well had an encounter while getting water. The disciples had an encounter while fishing after the crucifixion. Paul had an encounter on his way to Damascus.
All these people were doing everyday life - they were not looking for God, but He went looking for them. This is where we find ourselves in this particular month before we enter the new Hebrew year. He is looking for us in the field. He wants a face to face encounter to not only impart His heart, but to release us from what is causing us to be stuck.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So, Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So, I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Exodus 3:1-8
Moses did not miss his appointment. When God called Moses from the burning bush he responded. He obeyed when he was told to take off his shoes because he was standing on Holy ground. Although Moses hid his face when he found out he was speaking to the God of his ancestors, this encounter would change his knowing ABOUT God to “knowing Him” for himself. His face to face, heart to heart with the God of the universe changed Moses forever, which affected the millions he would lead through the desert as well as generations yet unborn.
So, this is our time! As the earth groans under the weight of sin, may the children of God living in this era be fully released into their God-given destinies. Moses was used to set the Israelites free so they could worship Him. We too, can be used to set the captives free to worship Him but we have to be first free ourselves.
Continue to seek Him this month in the mundane of everyday life. It’s never too late to have a radical encounter that leaves you FOREVER changed.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. - Proverbs 8:17
“…but the people that know their God shall be strong and do great exploits.” - Daniel 11:32