“While He yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” Matthew 17:5
The Word of God, the Scriptures, has been given to us, to study and know, as this is essential if we would know God in truth. The preservation of the Scriptures over thousands of years of man’s tumultuous history, and made available to men in their respective tongues today, has for its purpose to reveal God in Christ to us, and then through us. When Jesus spoke of Himself as being the “true bread from heaven,” (Jn. 6:32) He went on to declare, “I am the bread of life,” “…the living bread which came down from heaven.” (6:48,51) That which Jesus said was, and is, the absolute truth. Knowing the truth of Christ is essential in order for man, the believing man, to have communion with Him. But there is one more thing, and it has to do with partaking of the bread of life. To come to the well of truth, and not drink of the living water is a great, and eternal failing. Living water, like living bread, has come to men that they not only know the truth of Christ’s existence and work, but to partake of Him, and this by the power of the Spirit.
When Jesus was with his disciples on what has been called, the Mount of Transfiguration, we see God the Father revealing something of His glory by overshadowing that small company with a bright cloud, then speaking out of it. The Father’s declaration was very clear concerning who He was, who Christ was, and what the response of the disciples was to be. God did not reveal His glory, nor manifest that glory in Christ on that Mountain so that the disciples would just know about it and tell others. It was directed at one thing, that the disciples should, above all else, and in preference to all else, hear and obey Christ. God was calling these disciples to know the truth in its glory, but be partakers of the living water, the living bread, by actively obeying that which they would hear from Christ’s lips. They were in essence called to be not only hearers, but “doers” of the word.
At one period in time, when Moses was leading the people of Israel through the wilderness, in route to the promised land, God instructed him to dismantle the Tabernacle, and rebuilt it outside the camp. This was a picture of what had happened to the people spiritually. The manifest presence of God, the testimony of that presence according to all that He had promised Israel, would not remain in the camp. The people’s actions, and their neglect of worship, had brought upon them God’s displeasure. However, for those earnest individuals who would truly seek God, they would now need to go to the tabernacle outside of the camp. The Tabernacle had been displaced, but the promises and provision of God remained unchanged.
Moses was a man who took full advantage of the opportunity of seeking God and finding Him. He pursued God, the knowledge of Him, and the experience of His presence. Moses would pray, “Show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee.” (Ex. 33:13) Moses knew that if he was to know God he had to know the truth of His ways, as opposed to those of men. He also knew that just knowing the truth was not enough if faith’s vision was to rise to the appropriation of the fulness of Christ, greatly pleasing the Father. So, after God had promised to Moses, “…My presence shall go with thee, and I will give the rest,” Moses would then pray, “I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.” Moses’ request was answered by the Lord passing before him, proclaiming, “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant n goodness and truth.” (34:6) Moses learned, the disciples also, that knowing God meant knowing truth, living by His power.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to pursue. In Jesus’ name, Amen.