Scripture:

15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. ¹⁸ Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Observation:

Moses had to go up the mountain and then the glory of God came. We climb the mountain of God through a process of consecration and sanctification (maturity). We each have to do this on our own. We can't follow the group, we have to leave the group. To outsiders, the glory of God looks like a fire-a spectacle to be seen from a distance, but not something to get too close to. Moses entered this cloud, and lived there for over a month. He saw God in a burning bush, the plagues, face glowed, and He also saw the back of God. Oh ya, and a little thing called the ten commandments. Twice. Moses was able to experience God on a level most don't-He was called a friend of God.

Perhaps the reason most of us do not ever get past the fear of God, and have a "distanced" outlook of Him, is because we are too afraid of the cost of climbing the mountain of God.

Application:

Someday I may not ever have a glowing face, see the back of God, or be called through a burning bush, but I can be called a friend of God. I choose to run to and through the things that look scary, and impossible-because the glory is there.

Prayer:

God help me to run to you, even if that means being alone sometimes, and help me become sanctified. I want to love what you love, hate what you hate, and become someone that you can call a friend.