Originally posted: 05/06/2019
Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, (9:23).
It’s really too much to take in, isn’t it, trying to imagine what it was like, seeing the Appearance of His Glory? But one thing is not left to the imagination: the Appearance of His Glory was His doing, by His command, and accomplished His intended purpose.
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23 Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces, (9:22-24).
Consider the Appearance of His Glory
The Appearance of His Glory came after all had been done according to His commands, (9:5, 6, 7, 10, 21).
The Appearance of His Glory came with His all consuming fire, (9:24).
The Appearance of His Glory was visibly evident to all, (9:24).
The Appearance of His Glory caused audible reactions of joy, (9:24):
(the word shout is not a shout of fear; from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: “7442. רָנַן rānan, רוּן rûn: a verb meaning to shout for joy; to sing joyfully”).
The Appearance of His Glory resulted in humble and passionate worship, (9:24).
How do we respond to the Appearance of His Glory?
The Appearance of His Glory was made manifest in Jesus Christ, the Glorious Word Who became flesh.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth, (John 1: 1, 14),
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature… (Hebrews 1:-3).
And today, the Appearance of His Glory is made manifest through the lives of His people by their faith and hope in Christ.
that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, (Colossians 1:26-27).
Oh, may we never take for granted the indescribable grace and privilege of experiencing the Appearance of His Glory.
Consider the following:
- Are we inviting the Appearance of His Glory through our obedient lives?
- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
- Are we offering our all, desiring nothing but that our lives be consumed by the Appearance of His Glory?
- Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, (Romans 12:1).
- Do others see the Appearance of His Glory in us?
- “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 5:16).
- Is the Appearance of His Glory causing us to live joy-filled lives?
- …and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (1 Peter 1:8).
- Is the Appearance of His Glory resulting in lives of humble and passionate worship?
- Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire, (Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV).
May we live reverent and obedient lives, consumed with joy and worship, that others might see and be drawn to seek Him and also live to experience the indescribable gift of the Appearance of His Glory.