We find one of the most amazing incidents in the Bible in Exodus 24:9-11 God gives an invitation, not only to Moses, but also to Aaron, his sons, and the seventy elders of Israel to come up to Him on the mountain. They had just seen the power of God on the mountain when God came down to give the Ten Commandments. They had quaked with fear as they watched the mountain smoke like a furnace, they had trembled as they felt the earthquake, and their hearts had melted when they heard the trumpet blast louder and louder. God had commanded that no one must “touch the border of it: whosoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death” (Exodus 19:12).
And yet now they have been invited to come up on this fearful mountain. Wow! How would you feel? I think I would have obeyed with great fear and trepidation. Let us read what happened.
Exodus 24:9-11: “Then went u Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drank.”
I have to say “Wow!” again! They ate a meal in the presence of God. The New Bible Commentary comments on this passage. “A sacrifice involved a sacrificial meal, and Moses, following the command of verse 1, took the elders up the mount, there to eat the flesh of the sacrifice and so to commune with the God to whom it was offered. While they were eating God granted to them, as a token of His favor, a vision of Himself which revealed Him as the God who not only thunders in wrath at all iniquity, but whose glory is also manifested in surpassing loveliness.”
Once again, it was WHILE THEY WERE EATING that God revealed Himself and gave them a glimpse of His glory. The NLT says: “they ate as covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!”
Exodus 33:20 tells us that: “no man shall see me, and live” so they obviously did not see the pure fullness of God’s glory but were privileged to behold a reflection of His dazzling splendor, all while they ate and communed in the presence of God.
God not only visits people at church. He longs to visit them at their tables. God wants to bring His presence to your table too. He delights to join you. Do you invite Him? Do you expect Him to be with you? It will make all the difference to your mealtimes.
Have a beautiful day,
Nancy Campbell