Six Lonely Days

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets…with the commands I have written…” Exodus 24:12.

I remember three or so years ago Bruce and I were trying to make a big decision in our lives that required lots of prayer.  We had prayed together and individually, desiring nothing more than to hear from God on this decision.  We went away for the weekend and took many walks during that stay at the beach.  One afternoon we decided to walk hand in hand to the end of the pier over the ocean.  We were standing near the end when my phone rang, at which point I answered since I knew it was someone with whom I needed to arrange an appointment.  Upon hanging up, I turned around to find Bruce at the very end of the pier alone on his knees.  I just stood there and knew that I was not invited to that gathering.  That gathering was between Father and son… the seeker and the sought after…the guided and the Guide. 

Joshua experienced the same thing as Moses was called to go on up ahead...ascend to the top alone...and meet with God.  ‘Joshua went with Moses partway but then stopped and waited, for the Lord intended to speak only to Moses during that time.  Moses had to wait six days as the glory of the LORD settled’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 254.  I never noticed that God waited six days to begin unfolding the blueprint of His plan for Moses.  We are told that Moses had to wait to receive the instruction of the Lord.  That meant that there was a block of time when Moses sat in the cloud with no visibility...no plan…no direction.  He knew that there were people down below who depended on him for direction, wisdom and answers.  I find it interesting that God stayed silent for the same amount of time it took for Him to create the world. 

It is no different as our Father calls us to come and meet with Him in our times of least visibility.  He beckons us to those lonely places to meet with us intimately.  As we are being still, He is being active … actively creating as we are surrendering…actively arranging as we are waiting.  It is a sacred place where no one else is invited for it is the place of individual revelation. 

If you are on top of that lonely mountain where you cannot see the horizon, take comfort that God has called you to commune with Him.  He has personally chosen you for a time ‘such as this’ and has important instructions for you.  Just because He is silent during this time, don’t think for a moment you have been forgotten.  While you are in limbo, He is creating and arranging His perfect plan for your life.  Hold on…your seventh day is coming!