Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 19:7-9.

“So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him.  All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!”  And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.  The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.”  Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.”  Exodus 19:7-9.

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Today’s Scripture, particularly the highlighted part of verse 8 above, of the LORD coming to Moses in a cloud, so that the people may also hear and may also believe, reminds us of The Transfiguration of Jesus and The Ascension of Jesus.

“Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves.  And He was transfigured before them;  and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.  Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here;  if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased;  listen to Him!”  When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.  And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”  And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.”  Matthew 17:1-8.

“So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;  but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;  and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.  They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:6-11.

We have not witnessed such miraculous sights and words as the LORD appearing to Moses in a thick cloud nor The Transfiguration of Jesus nor The Ascension of Jesus, but we can read about these events in the Bible, and to use the language of today’s Scripture, we may also hear God speak and may also believe.  We also have the Holy Spirit and have received power to be His witnesses, so that other people of God’s elect may also believe.  

Shortly after the Ascension, at Pentecost, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter gave a sermon which concluded:  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Acts 2:36.

What was the result?

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;  and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”  So then, those who had received his word were baptized;  and that day there were added about three thousand souls.  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  Acts 2:37-42.