I.       Introduction

There have been a few direct encounters with God recorded throughout the Bible. Many echo the same feelings and witness the same surroundings. Throughout these encounters, the character of God is revealed through the passages. We are going to reflect on a few of these instances today and hopefully, we can gain a greater knowledge and appreciation of the character of God so that we may emulate His greatness, worship His might, and awe at His incredible power.

One person who had a personal relationship with God was Moses. Beginning early in his childhood, God had a specific plan for this man. Developing throughout his life, Moses realized that he was the one that was to lead the Lord’s people. Moses did just that!

II.    Direct Contacts with Our Lord

A.   The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-15)

1.     Setting: Moses, while tending to the flock of his father-in-law came to a mountain called Horeb, the mountain of God.

2.     Read Ex. 3:4-14

a)    The appearance and character of God revealed

(1)  Holy presence of God-“the place where you stand is Holy Ground.” (5)

(2)  So wonderful and awesome-“he was afraid to look at Him.” (6)

(3)  Compassion-“seen the oppression of my people.” (7)

(4)  Everlasting and All powerful- “I AM has sent me.” (14)

B.   Events In Between Exodus 3 and 19:

1.     Most know of the events that happened here. Moses returned to Egypt to free his people. The Pharaoh does not heed the Lord’s call and therefore the plagues are sent. The Pharaoh finally lets the people go but then pursued the Israelites. At the Red Sea, backed into a corner, Moses uses the power of the Lord to part the Sea and make a way of escape. From the other side, they journey through the hard wilderness and finally to the bottom of Mount Sinai.

C.   The Lord comes down on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19)

1.     Here, Moses met with God and instituted the covenant with the people now to be called “a kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation.” (6) Moses went back and told the people of this covenant and to be ready for the third day when the Lord was to return. The Israelites agree to the covenant.

2.     The Encounter at Mt. Sinai

a)    Read Exodus 19:16-20

b)    The appearance and character of God revealed

(1)  Power-Move the natural forces of the Earth, (They were created by Him) (16)

(2)  Sound of exaltation at His presence- “trumpet was very loud…all the people…trembled.” (16)

c)     People were very afraid, they told Moses to speak to Him (Ex. 20:18-20)

D.   They see the Glory of God (Exodus 24:1-2, 9-18)

1.     The story of the meeting-Affirming the covenant

a)    God wanted to meet with Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders.

b)    Read Exodus 24:9-18

c)     The appearance and character of God revealed

(1)  Beauty-under His feet as it were paved work of sapphire stone.” (10)

(2)  Divine, Majesty, and Strength-they did not dare to look above His feet

(3)   Consuming Fire-That was all they could think of.

 

E.   What God really looks like

1.     Moses asks for God to show him His glory

a)    Read Exodus 33:18-23

b)    The appearance and character of God revealed

(1)  Goodness-says it will “pass before Moses.” (19)

(2)  Grace and compassion-extended to those who he chooses (19)

(3)  Glorious-“for no one can see His face and live.” (20)

c)     Read Exodus 34:5-8

d)    The appearance and character of God revealed

(1)  Merciful, gracious, longsuffering, abounding in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin

e)     What was Moses reaction

(1)  Bowed His head to the Earth and worshipped

III.  What is the character of God?

A.    It is Holy, Wonderful, Awesome, Everlasting, Powerful, Beautiful, Divine, Glorious, and Majestic.

B.   He is full of Goodness, Compassion, Grace, and Mercy.

C.   And He is a consuming fire

 

IV.            What should our reaction be when coming into the presence of the Lord?

A.   The same reaction as Moses

1.     After Moses met with God, he came down from the Mountain with a shining face. He had to put a veil on because people were afraid. They saw his skin shining because he had come into the presence of the Lord.

2.     Our lives today are very much the same. Reading from Hebrews chapter 12.

a)    You are in Glorious company.

¹⁸For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, ¹⁹and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. ²⁰(For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” ²¹And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”) ²²But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ²³to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, ²⁴to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

b)    If you are here this morning and you need to renew your faith, do it now!

¹²Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

c)     If you are here and need to put on your faith by being baptized into Jesus Christ, do it now!

¹⁴Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…

d)    Hear the Heavenly voice

²⁵See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” ²⁷Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹For our God is a consuming fire.

 

Come today to the only God! The Almighty!