“Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.””
— Genesis 32:30 NLT
Thinking on how decades after this encounter and declaration, the Israelites were convinced they’d die if they saw the face of God. God wanted to relate with them, but their fear made them ask that Moses be their go between. Yes, God had asked that they consecrate themselves and given them boundaries and instructions; that notwithstanding, He wanted to dwell with them after they’d purified themselves because He is Holy.
See Exodus 19:9-12, 16; & 20:18-19
On the flip side, I think about how Christ’s finished works purify and make us Holy…. How His finished works justify and permit us to be in God’s presence to have His Spirit be upon and dwell in us; to relate with Him; to seek and see His face; to see His glory and — just like Jacob who wasn’t even Israel at the time of his encounter with God —; still live.
Thank You God for Your mercy.
Thank You Jesus for affording us this privilege and being our only go between.
Thank You Holy Spirt for renewing our minds, transforming our spirits and helping us believe we can see the face of God… and reflect Him to others. So that they also might see His face and reflect Him to others… in continuum.
🧎🏾♀️
THE LORD'S VESSEL 