Beyond the Sacred Words

~~~ Exodus 32:7-14 ~~~ Psalm 106 ~~~ John 5:31-47 ~~~

Moses tries to reason with God.

This is almost a comical scenario. On the other hand 

does it say something more about the relationship Moses had with God?

He felt like he could speak openly and honestly with God.

God had been providing everything for the Israelite people.

He just could not keep them satisfied.

They were an impatient people.

They turned to alternative means to make 

themselves feel better.

We do this as well...

that is how we end up finding ourselves in sin.

Understandably God was not happy.

Moses even goes so far as to remind God what his enemies might say.

They might accuse God of setting up this whole journey
as a trap to trick the people.

Of course we know this is not the

Moses assumed responsibility for the whole group,

whether it was right or wrong. 

You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.

Moses had a personal relationship with God.
Sometimes we forget that God wants to have a
personal relationship with each of us as well.
While I certainly love the Scriptures,
 we cannot fool ourselves into believing that knowing bible verses
replaces this relationship with God.

When Jesus walked among his people
they had the unique opportunity
 to have a tangible relationship with him.

God led Moses so that he could lead the people to the Promised Land.
God took care of their physical needs...
protecting them in battle...
feeding them in the desert...
giving them water...

When Jesus came the entire scenario was refined
to include the care of one's soul, the spiritual life.

Jesus says one does not live by bread alone...
one cannot have a personal relationship with God
by reading the Scriptures alone.

The Scriptures are truly designed to lead us into
a greater relationship with God.
We must go beyond the words on the page.

Jesus sees into the heart.
Jesus knows what is not spoken.

Knowledge of the Scriptures hopefully leads us to
the font of eternal life...
Jesus.
Those who came before Jesus to testify on his behalf were transient.
When Jesus comes he is not transient; he will be
with us until the end of time.

Blessed to be given the living Word of God.
May these words be the conduit to a
deeper relationship with the Lord.
It is only by coming to him that we will have eternal life.
Peace.