November 16, 2023

Scripture: Exodus 20:18-21 – “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”  Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”  The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”

What it means

This is right after Moses delivered the Ten Commandments to the Israelites…the message itself was sobering enough, but then add some thunder and lightning, trumpet sounds and smoke, and it surely would have been enough to drop even the bravest individual to their knees.  And so, they begged Moses to continue being the spokesperson rather than God “or we will die.”  Moses assured them that that wasn’t the case, that it was only a test to keep them on their toes and advise them of the importance of not sinning.  But the punchline in all this is in verse 21 – “Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”  What in the world is that supposed to mean?

What it means to me

We referred to this scripture passage extensively during my last COS class, which was Congregational Care…hopefully I’ve learned how to take better care of you 😊 How this applies to us today, and in particular those of us who are walking with someone really struggling…sometimes we just have to be willing to walk in the thick darkness with them.  We would rather not – I get it, it’s not a happy, fun-filled place to be by a long shot, but sometimes that’s where we are needed – in the thick darkness.  You see, in this instance in Exodus, that’s exactly where God was – in the thick darkness.  Sometimes we have to be willing to meet people where they are, and much of the time, it isn’t in bright, warm sunlight. Sometimes it’s in the valley.  Sometimes it’s in the gutter.  Sometimes, it’s in the thick darkness.  So, if that’s where you are being called to go for a season, don’t be afraid – because God is there, and God will meet you there and sustain you and bring you up out of the thick darkness.

Love you guys, see you on Sunday!

In Christ,

Brian