herlucidlife

Exodus chapter thirty four verse twenty, “no one is to appear before Me empty handed.” Having recently left Egypt. The Israelites grew restless waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai as Moses was receiving two tablets from God. These tablets listed the ten commandments and the covenant God made between Him and the Israelites. With impatience they demanded Aaron, the right hand man to Moses, to build a golden cafe. They worshiped, made sacrifices and had a feast full of dancing and play. They also declared that this golden cafe released them from Egypt.  When God saw what was occurring He was enraged and wanted to express His anger. Moses appealed to God on the Israelites behalf. Moses went to the bottom of the mountain 

 Moses was outraged when he saw the Israelites dancing, laughing and worshiping the golden cafe that he threw down the tablets and they broke in half. Moses burnt the cafe til it turned to dust, put the dust in water and forced the Israelites to drink it. Moses commanded that every man who loved God to step up, all the Levites gathered. These men were commanded to kill their brother, their friend and neighbor. That day three thousand men fell dead. Some time passed and it was time for God to give Moses the covenant obligations for the new tablets. One of the obligations is the giving of the firstborn including sons, livestock, cattle and sheep. The part that hit me was when God said no one should come before Him empty handed.  There are consequences for sins. Every person is guilty of sin. There is liberation when we live for Christ alone.

After everything I’ve done. All the times I disobeyed and rebelled, God was there. Just when I thought God had had enough of my foolishness, He stayed. Repenting over the same sin over and over again, God showed me what His faithfulness looks like. Yet when God says no person should come empty handed to Him. I think of how God wants my heart. My heart is the greatest sacrifice I can give. My life is the only living sacrifice I can give to God. The children of Israel lived before Jesus’ time, they needed to give the best in order to atone for their sins. Jesus has atoned for mine. Yet to show my love for Him I need to deny my flesh and live for Him.  

With all the baggage God still wants me to come with hands full. Full of all of myself to give to Him. Full of everything good and sinful so He may use it for His glory. Nothing glorifies God more than giving myself to Him fully without hesitation. I’m learning to let go of myself and hold onto Him. He’s teaching me that holding onto myself will drive me away from Him. He’s showing me that He wants everything, even the things I see as insignificant. The Israelites are giving sacrifices in order to be in community with God. Jesus built the bridge, so we may be with God. Bringing all that I am is heavy, thankfully God’s arm are outstretched.