In the Cleft
and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Exodus 33:22 ESV
Cleft of the Rock – Serenity. Safety. Solace. I know this place, but I don’t visit it often enough–in body or spirit.
He who dwells……in the secret place of the Almighty……shall abide under the shadow of His wings. Living there in His secret place. Sounds pretty good to me right this minute.
It is a place near Him, where His glory can be seen, where all His goodness passes before the one He has placed there, the one who has found favor in His eyes, the one He knows by name, Yet it is a place where that one still may not look on His face lest he die, where he can only see His back after He passes by When, if ever, will that one be able to look on His face and not only see His back?
“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life—bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s street. On either side of the river was a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in the city, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. Night shall be no more, and people will have no need for lamplight or sunlight—for Adonai Elohim will shine on them. And they shall reign forever and ever!” [Rev 22:1-5]
And how can that ever be that that one should be given that much favor?
Maybe the answer is to, at least in part, be found in this prayer of Moses: “Now then, I pray, if I have found grace in Your eyes, show me Your ways, so that I may know You, so that I might find favor in Your sight. Consider also that this nation is Your people.” [Exo 33:13]
I know this place, too, Skip.
It’s a rock we stand right next to.
But the cares of this world tend to distract us from it.
Yet, we’re there as often as we are aware we’re there!
“But seek FIRST his kingdom . . .”
This place and a lawn chair would do fine for me!