2013 Advent Devotions from the Lutheran Hour Ministries – Thursday,
26 December 2013 – The Second Day of Christmas - "HAVE YOU SEEN HIS GLORY?”
Read Numbers 9: The Cloud and the Fire
15 On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the
tabernacle, the tent of the covenant;[a] and from evening until morning it was
over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire. 16 It was always so: the
cloud covered it by day[b] and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the
cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the
place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. 18 At the
command of the Lord the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the
Lord they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they
would remain in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many
days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the Lord, and would not set out.
20 Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and
according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according
to the command of the Lord they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud would
remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning,
they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud
lifted they would set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer
time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the
Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they
would set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they would camp, and at the
command of the Lord they would set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the
command of the Lord by Moses.
Footnotes:
a. Numbers 9:15 Or treaty, or testimony; Heb eduth
b. Numbers 9:16 Gk Syr Vg: Heb lacks by day. TEXT: And we have
seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and
truth (see John 1:14).
How would you like to lift up your eyes any time of day or night
and look upon the glory of God? The Israelites who left Egypt enjoyed that
privilege for 40 years. The Lord revealed His glory in the pillar that led them
across the wilderness to the Promised Land. By day it was a pillar of cloud, by
night a pillar of fire. After Israel settled into the Promised Land the pillar
disappeared. God was still present in their midst, but their eyes could no
longer perceive His glory.
On that first Christmas God's glory shone briefly around the
shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem. But when they ran into the little
town they saw nothing special, just an ordinary-looking baby who was
"wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger" (see Luke 2:12). No
halo shone around His head. The fullness of the deity was concealed within the
tabernacle of Jesus' infant body.
His glory as the Son of God would not be revealed until His
Baptism at age 30. Only then did He begin revealing His divine glory through His
words and His miracles, demonstrating His power over disease, accidents,
nature, demons ... even death.
Today His glory is hidden in common, ordinary things like the
words of the Bible, the water of Baptism and the bread and wine of Holy
Communion. But we can rest assured that since Jesus satisfied God's wrath at
our sins through His suffering and death, we will live with him forever, always
looking upon His dazzling glory.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, because of all You accomplished in Your
first coming at Bethlehem, I will stand faultless when You come again in glory.
Keep me in this faith so I will always be ready for that great day. Amen.
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Mail:
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, MO 63141 United States
Telephone: (800)876-9880
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