God loves us all the same. He’s willing to do for us. He’ll put us in the cleft of the rock.
Song of Solomon 2: 14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
When we find ourselves faced with a mountain, on that mountain is a cave or cleft in which we can fit. There were many times as a little boy I hid under the stairs so daddy wouldn’t find me. There are such places for us to hide. The Lord wants to come help us. God does his greatest work in the cleft of the rock and the secret places of the stairs. Even the closest to God have problems. We won’t have a trouble-free, devil-free life. If we serve the Lord, a whole lot is against us. The devil will throw his ammunition against us, but greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.
In Exodus 33 Moses and the children of Israel were at the foot of Mount Horeb. The tabernacle was without the camp because the people had sinned. God’s wrath was upon the people. Moses brought the Word of the Lord down from the mountain, but the people had made a golden calf and were worshipping it. Moses went to the door of the tabernacle to inquire of the Lord what to do. He was broken at the condition of Israel. God told him my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. The same goes for us. When we say “I don’t know what to do” God knows. Ask the Lord to show you his way. Moses asked to be shown that the Lord would be with them. He knew the people were waiting for an answer from God. He has a purpose for us that transcends time. He means business with us. Moses wanted to be shown that God was with them today and would be tomorrow. Moses pressed it asking to see the glory of God. Step out in faith. Take God at his word.
The Lord said there is a place by me. That place beside you is God’s. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. God passed by and Moses looked out after him. People were not able to look at Moses because he was so bright. Let God put you in the cleft of the rock.
Hundreds of years later Elijah was on Mount Carmel. We see that story in First Kings 19. He got word that Jezebel was after him. He ran scared. He was confused. He had just won the battle on the mountain. He thought and thought. That’s what the matter is. We think things won’t change. They’ll always go well. Don’t question God. Don’t ask why me. Everything comes to us all. The God of Moses was the God of Elijah. Times had changed. There was a different set of circumstances, but God was still the same God. Elijah ran all the way from Carmel to Mount Horeb and dwelt in a cave there. The cleft for Moses was now the cleft for Elijah. The cleft is still there for us. It’s time to go to the mountain and wait for the Lord to pass by.
A voice spoke to Elijah asking why he was there. Elijah went to the opening and stood. The Lord passed by. The winds came. God wasn’t in it. The earth shook. God wasn’t in it. The Lord spoke in a still small voice. We don’t need flashy, fancy things. We just need to hear God speak. The Lord got him there and told Elijah there were many who had not bowed to Baal. He told him not to worry about Jezebel. He promised to be with him.
Eight hundred years later Peter, James and John were on Mount Herman. It’s a far north as you could go. Horeb was as far south. Can the Lord help you there? The disciples were upset because Jesus had told them he was going to die. Moses and Elijah were there. Jesus took them to the top of the mountain. From there they could see Horeb. It doesn’t matter what mountain we’re on, God is there. Jesus was transfigured into his former glory. All they could say was “it’s good to be here.” We’re thousands of miles from Herman and Horeb, but it’s good to be here. A cloud came over the mountain and the voice of God spoke to the disciples saying this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
It doesn’t matter where our mountain is. Remember there is a place by the Lord on your mountain. God will cleave a place and come by and be with you. The mountain before you is of God, not the devil. God has carved a cave—a cleft—that just fits you and me. The Lord is passing by.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 