When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.
Exodus 24:15-16 NIV
This passage struck me this morning as I read it. I have no idea how many times I have read through Exodus. But, as frequently happens when I read the Scripture, something new jumped out at me. About the importance of waiting to hear from God.
After the people had agreed to the covenant terms, God called Moses to climb back up onto Sinai, where he would receive the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. So Moses returned to the mountain. A cloud covered the mountain, and the glory of the Lord settled on it. And Moses was waiting to hear from God. For six days, he waited for the Lord to speak to him. And finally, on the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses.
What I found so interesting in rereading this was that even though God had called Moses to come to see him, he had to wait for a week before God spoke to him. Would I wait for a week? Or would I grow weary of waiting after an hour or so and head back on down the mountain? That is a scenario that I am not likely to encounter, but I do head into the mountains periodically, seeking to spend time with the Lord. But I must confess I have never just waited until he spoke, regardless of how long it took. How much have I missed out on because of my impatience?
