Wonderful Places

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: General | Nov 1977

Ziklag, where he strengthened himself in the Lord his God (1 Sam. 30:1-6), and Adullam's cave (1 Sam. 22:1,2), were two places David would not forget. The winepress, where he received the assurance "The LORD is with thee thou mighty man of valour", was a memorable place for Gideon (Jud. 6:12). As for Moses, his never-to-be-forgotten places were the bush, the mountain top, the Tent, and the cleft of the rock. Those who had such great experiences invariably became great for God for they heard the Voice of the Eternal, and learned His Omnipotent ways. The same wonderful places of meditation, communion, prayer, and protection, are available to the Lord's disciples today if we too long for our spiritual lives to be strengthened and blessed.

Moses saw, and heard, and learned things which left on him their indelible impress. They were so necessary in, assisting him as the fearless leader of a nation emancipated from Egypt. He was to shepherd the flock of God, a task far more important than tending Jethro's sheep (Exod. 3). Awaiting Moses, too, was the place of the rock. Egypt and the Red Sea were now behind him, and a redeemed people were to build for God a glorious dwelling-place in the desert en route to the promised land. While Moses was receiving the plan of the Tabernacle, and the tablets of stone, on Mount Sinai, Aaron was busy down below with the golden calf. God's anger over this almost resulted in Israel's being consumed (Exod. 33:5).

For a time God was silent with His people, and it was a memorable day when Moses first disappeared into the Tent, followed by the gaze of an anxious people, and the Lord spake to him "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (33:11). As at the bush, Moses never forgot that early encounter of the Tent. In the Eternal Presence he pleaded the promise of grace, and sought the assurance of the continuing Presence of Jehovah. He cried, "... shew me ... that I may know Thee ... that I may find grace ... and consider... this... Thy people". And the divine answer was, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest" (vv.12-14). The bush, the mountain, the Tent, all unforgettable for Moses. Wonderful places of experience, but there awaited him yet, the place of the rock. God, you see, is never completely finished in His dealings with His servants, with you and me, on earth. He gives us as much as we can contain, and leaves us longing for more. And so the eyes which saw the bush burn, earnestly desired to see the glory. Did ever a prayer escape the lips of a man like that of pleading Moses on that day? Just as if nothing else mattered, he cried: "Shew me, I pray Thee, Thy glory" (v.18). That prayer was to have a remarkable answer hundreds of years later; and it was to be on a different mountain, and in the promised land. Yes, Moses did enter the land, and with Elijah he saw the majesty of Messiah on the holy mount of Transfiguration. He saw His face shining as the sun, and His garments as white as the light (Matt. 17:1-8). Moses could then have said, "We beheld His glory" (John 1:14).

But at the place of the rock he was told, "Thou canst not see My face:

for man shall not see Me and live" (v.20). Then came an invitation to an experience which would brand itself on Moses until the day of his death in Moab. "And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock; And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of a rock, and will cover thee with My hand until I have passed by" (v.22). Meditate, beloved, on the wonder of this experience. A place by Me! Standing upon the rock! Hidden in the cleft of the rock! And the mighty hand of God as a cover! Could Moses ever forget? Never! He would live in the strength of what he had heard and seen for many days. What of us? This, too, is the story of our full salvation, and all that accompanies it; the story of Calvary and all the contingent blessings of His presence, protection, and power. But we must seek the reassurance of the experience as Moses did. We must come to the unforgettable places of prayer, as Moses did, for refreshment of soul, for strength for the day.

"A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord,

A wonderful Saviour to me;

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

Where rivers of pleasure I see.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depth of His love,

And covers me there with His hand."

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Nov 1977
General