October 7 - Going Up the Mountain

Today's Reading: 
Exodus 23:14-25:40
Luke 19:1-27
Psalm 22:22-31 
Click on Text Link to Read Online

Focus Verses:
Exodus 24:15-18
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Insight:
The Israelites saw what looked like a consuming fire and cloud on the mountain. The elders of Israel went part of the way toward the mountain with Moses and saw some sort of vision of God's presence. Moses climbed the mountain into the cloud cover and spent forty days in the very presence of God. The overwhelming message of all this serves to reinforce the authority of the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was understood to be directly from God.

Response and Action:
My view of the Scriptures is very important. If I consider the Bible to be just a book with the ideas and beliefs and directives of human beings, it will probably not have much power or authority in my life. If I consider it to be the Word of God, it will have a great deal of authority and power in my life. I will give careful consideration to my views toward Scripture. If I believe the Bible is from God, then I must give it the respect and authority it deserves. A desire to read, study, memorize, and apply the truths of the Bible should accompany the belief that it is truly inspired by God.

O God, thank you for the Bible. Show me your ways, O Lord, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. I seek you, Lord, with all my heart. Don't let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Resources:
Can I Trust the Bible?
by Darrell Bock