Exodus 24.11
They saw God, and they ate and drank.
From John:
We are one week into Lent. One way of picturing the observance of Lent is as if one is passing through a desert on a spiritual quest. How is your wilderness experience so far? There is much to learn from the Spirit of God in the desert places of our lives.
Today we take some passages from our readings in Exodus and in John to pray about how we can meet with God in the desert as the elders of Israel did.
Reflection: Seeing God in the Wilderness :: A Guided Prayer
By John Tillman
We pray to you, Lord, in the wilderness of Lent…
Like Israel, we desert what has enslaved us. We come to a desert place to meet with you.
“Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”
Israel came to a mountain, forbidden and foreboding, only a few could see your face.
[They] went up and saw the God of Israel…But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
But now, Christ extends his hand, inviting us to a joy-filled city, in which the God of creation waits to dine with us.
In Lent, Lord, we have the opportunity to leave behind worldly things we cling to, to partake of your presence and the heavenly food and drink that is doing the will of God.
If we cling to the things of earth, which are like dust, we cannot help but walk with our head down—looking down at what we can hold. Watching them crumble to dust.
In Lent, remind us that we are born again and raise our eyes to heavenly things.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Oh, Lord, let your Holy Spirit refresh our eyes to see what you see.
Let your Holy Spirit tell us of heavenly things and prepare us to understand them.
I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
May we lift you up, to draw those around us to you.
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Prayer: The Greeting
Your are my hope, O Lord God, my confidence since I was young. I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother’s womb you have been my strength; my praise shall be always of you. — Psalm 71.5-6
Today’s Readings
Exodus 24 (Listen – 2:48)
John 3 (Listen – 4:41)
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Read more about Seeing the Lord
He came to me in the wilderness of my own destitution.
He came to me in the poverty of my own understanding.
Read more about Our Opportunistic Opponent
By Christ’s mercy we can resist Satan and he will flee. But just as when Satan left Jesus in the wilderness, he is only waiting for an opportune time to return.
