The Transfiguration Of Our Lord
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud.
-- Exodus 24:16
Particularly because this passage is offered on Transfiguration Sunday, it is important to see the parallels and echoes in the passage. Frequently in the Bible, ascending a mountain is part of drawing closer to God. Jesus also ascended a mountain for his transfiguration. A cloud led the Hebrews through the wilderness and was the source of God's voice both at Mount Sinai and also in the transfiguration. God gave the law and commandment from a cloud and later told the disciples to listen to his Son in the transfiguration. In both cases the principle human figure -- Moses or Jesus -- took companions with him and told others to wait for them. In an echo of the creation story, in both stories, we have the reference of six days and on the seventh day God spoke.
The sabbath was lifted up as separate from other days. It was that thin moment when the eternal was made manifest in the finite lives of humans. In both stories, the glory of God was made manifest. In this passage it was like a devouring fire, where in the transfiguration it was seen in Jesus' face that shown like the sun. In both stories, there was mention of disputes among the believers. In this passage, Aaron and Hur are appointed as mediators. The result of both of these stories was the formation of a people set aside and given special instructions for their unique life as servants of God. While it is common for the church to experience disputes among themselves and while it is common to find ourselves waiting for, rather than possessing, God's instructions, God does draw near in those unique sabbath moments to sustain us with experiences of God's glory. We are not left alone.
-- Exodus 24:16
Particularly because this passage is offered on Transfiguration Sunday, it is important to see the parallels and echoes in the passage. Frequently in the Bible, ascending a mountain is part of drawing closer to God. Jesus also ascended a mountain for his transfiguration. A cloud led the Hebrews through the wilderness and was the source of God's voice both at Mount Sinai and also in the transfiguration. God gave the law and commandment from a cloud and later told the disciples to listen to his Son in the transfiguration. In both cases the principle human figure -- Moses or Jesus -- took companions with him and told others to wait for them. In an echo of the creation story, in both stories, we have the reference of six days and on the seventh day God spoke.
The sabbath was lifted up as separate from other days. It was that thin moment when the eternal was made manifest in the finite lives of humans. In both stories, the glory of God was made manifest. In this passage it was like a devouring fire, where in the transfiguration it was seen in Jesus' face that shown like the sun. In both stories, there was mention of disputes among the believers. In this passage, Aaron and Hur are appointed as mediators. The result of both of these stories was the formation of a people set aside and given special instructions for their unique life as servants of God. While it is common for the church to experience disputes among themselves and while it is common to find ourselves waiting for, rather than possessing, God's instructions, God does draw near in those unique sabbath moments to sustain us with experiences of God's glory. We are not left alone.
