Losing perspective…

Exodus 24:9-11   Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

This is one of the most outrageous pasages to me for three reasons.

1.  This really happened.  These men climbed a moutain and saw God.  They are part of the very few in the history of the world that have seen God and lived to tell about.

2.  They didn’t just see God, but they hung out with him.  They drank and ate with God.  This was not take out. They communed, took in, and watched God. 

3.  God allowed them to see Him and it didn’t affect their lives for very long.  Just a few chapters later these same men have not only created an idol, but they ”sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” Ex 32  

 Somehow I have in my head that if I could only see God, I would not longer lose perspective.  There would be no way that I would ever skip ingesting the Bible everyday or pass on sharing faith, hope or love to someone in need.  If only I could see God on a moutain.  But, these men prove to me that there is nothing in this world apart from God that keep my perspective.  There is no one time experience that will protect me, or those with whom I serve, from making some really poor choices.  I can make this life all about me every day, if I choose to. It is not that difficult to forget what I have been shown. 

These men were entrusted to see God. They had already been entrusted with leading God’s people and now they got the ultimate experience in life.  Yet, they ”got up to induldge in revelry”. 

This challenges me t0 pray for those who lead my community of faith.  It challenges me to keep my eyes on what God has done, is doing and will do in the future.  It has challenged not to forget. 

What about you?