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Text: Exodus 33
Let me begin with a misconception that we get about grace because we read Paul wrong. We think grace and law are opposing views of how God deals with men. When Paul talks about the law and grace, he sometimes means the law in the way he used the law as a Pharisee. Other times he means the law in the sense that the husband, Jesus Christ, died, and therefore the law had come to its fulfillment. You know, til death do us part. But God’s grace has never been excluded from God’s dealings with man even when Israel received the law.
Consider a couple of verses in this chapter. Look at 33:12-14, 16-19. You’re supposed to understand that the presence of God is the expression of His grace.
God threatens with his absence (vss 1-6)
Moses’ tabernacle pitched outside the camp (vss 7-11)
- Before Israel sets up THE tabernacle, Moses apparently has his own tabernacle that people attend according to verse 7.
- The movement of this tabernacle is indicative of the movement of the Spirit of God. Now, going outside the camp.
- John the Baptist
- Jesus
- This relationship of opposition to God and God’s opposition to the people show up very early in the nation’s history.
God’s presence is His grace (vss 12-19)
- Moses makes his case to the LORD.
The LORD agrees to lead the way (vss 20-23)
- This is either a weird event or it is the LORD agreeing to lead the way. I lean toward the latter at this point.
- After the idolatrous debacle with the golden calves, the LORD again agrees to lead the way and go with the people.
The Spirit of the LORD is liberty. This is the lesson that the Spirit of the LORD is the presence of God in leadership and liberty and blessing.
