Face to Face (Part 5)
Our study of “face to face” encounters with God has
given us a glimpse into his dealings with Jacob, Moses and successor
Joshua. In Numbers 14, we considered the manner in which Moses—the
one man that stood between an angry God and a provocative nation on
the brink of annihilation by pestilence—interceded on their behalf
to spare them such an end. The big stakes, however, had to do with
the negative impact on God’s reputation among the heathen—namely,
the Egyptians—that such an outcome would inflict.
The reputation of which Moses reminded the Lord was
encapsulated in this statement: “Thou Lord art seen face to face”
(14:14). No other nation could boast of such a privilege. In fact,
Pharaoh and his army, as they pursued a delivered Israel to the
banks of the Red Sea, had a little “face to face” of their own with
the God of Israel, and met a watery grave as a result. All of these
displays of power-protection were integral to the reputation God had
garnered. If the Lord who brought his people out of Egypt “was not
able to bring this people into the land which he swear unto them”
(14:16), a portentous indictment of “INABILITY” was in the cards. We
cannot overstate that a certain “wounding” of God’s reputation takes
place every time a true believer in the Lord Jesus, who has
experienced a regenerative face-to-face encounter with him, is
guilty of overt spiritual-moral failure within view of an observant
secular world—one that would love to hang that failure on God
himself.
The next “face to face” mention takes us forty years
into the future. The days of wilderness wandering had come to an
end. Moses summoned Israel together to reiterate all that God had
said and done as a manifestation of his precepts and power. In his
introduction, Moses reminded them of their unique heritage: “The
Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of
the fire” (Deuteronomy 5:4). I believe those words were meant as a
stake in the ground, an anchor for the soul. Israel’s greatest
days—days of military conquest and acquisition of land in a
theocratic context—were yet to come. Moses wanted that supernatural
meeting at Mount Sinai to be indelibly etched in their minds. In
like manner, we as believers should NEVER forget that the One who
began a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ (Philippians 1:6).
In the post-Joshua era, there was an acting judge
whom the Lord God visited on a “face to Face” basis. Gideon lived in
the time frame wherein the Midianites served as the bully de jour
for seven years (Judges 6:1). Because of the harsh treatment, Israel
resorted to dens and caves as strongholds, and was “greatly
impoverished” (6:2, 6). A chastened people finally reached the
breaking point, and cried unto the Lord for deliverance (6:7). As is
often the case, God called a man of his own choosing to stand in the
gap.
The Angel of the Lord (pre-Incarnate Christ) appeared
to Gideon, promised his presence for the task ahead and confirmed
the promise with signs. Before departing, the Angel consumed by fire
the offering that Gideon had prepared. Gideon came to a full
realization of whom he had met: “I have seen an angel of the LORD
[Yahweh] face to face” (6:22). Two points of observation: (1) It was
God in his mercy who had initiated this up-close-and-personal
encounter. Gideon simply responded in obedience to the grace God
proffered. (2) A special encounter with God that he initiates in
your life may very well be a prelude to and preparation for a
much-needed spiritual breakthrough! God is always working and always
up to something. Rejoice if his master plan includes you!
The next (and last) OT usage of “face to face” occurs
in a prophetic context (Ezekiel 20). As the Lord’s prophet, Ezekiel
casts his eyes into the latter days to describe the manner in which
God will deal with the wickedness of his wayward people. The Lord
warned: “And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and
there will I plead with you face to face” (20:35). The word “plead”
typically signifies an advocatorial role as in attorney for the
defense. In this context, however, the pleading God has in mind is
prosecutorial, meaning that Israel will be without a defense! No
believer ever wants this kind of face-to-face encounter with his or
her God. For it means the Lord that bought you with his precious
blood is fed up with your rebellion and about to clean your clock!
Our final “face to face” reference is also prophetic
in nature. As Paul put the final inspired touches to the great love
chapter of scripture (1 Corinthians 13), he penned these words of
anticipation: “For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face
to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am
known” (13:12). Is it not rather amazing that we will know God to
the extent he now knows us? The obscurities we encounter in
theological terms will one day give way to a level of comprehension
hitherto unattainable. That initial face-to-face moment of full
disclosure shall mark the beginning of an eternity of fullness void
of limitations. Glory!
In closing, I invite you
to consider afresh the familiar lyrics written by Mrs. Frank A.
Breck and put to music in 1898 by Grant Colfax Tullarin: “Face to
face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face—what will it be? When with
rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me. Face to face I
shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His
glory, I shall see Him by and by!” And all God’s people said…”Amen!”
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