Unveiled

 

Exodus 34:29-35 tells us that when Moses went onto the mountain to hear from the LORD, he returned to the camp of the Israelites unaware that the skin of his face glowed from being in the presence of the glory of God. At first, the people, and even his brother, Aaron, were frightened by this very strange sight, and afraid to come near him. As Moses called to them and spoke to them, they came back to him and listened as he told them about his communication with God. After this event, Moses began to wear a veil, but would take the veil off to go before the Lord. After the Israelites saw on each occasion of his visitation with the LORD that Moses' skin glowed, he would then put the veil back on. Scripture doesn't tell us that God instructed Moses to do this. Many say he did this because the glory of God on his skin frightened the people, or that the people didn't want to see this glory of God. But the verses tell us that Moses wouldn't put the veil on each time until after the people saw him and listened to him from his meetings with God. So why did Moses veil himself at all?
The Apostle Paul reveals this mystery in 2 Cor. 3:7-18. Paul says that Moses covered his face because the people could not stand to look at end of what was passing away, the glory which was passing away (v.7). What would remain after this passing away is the ministry of the Spirit, possessing far greater glory. "For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious." (v.11). The glory of the Law written on tablets was never meant to be the completeness of the revelation of God. The revelation was to continue unto the revealing of the Messiah, who fulfills the Law, and the Spirit. "How will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds more in glory." (v. 8-9) Those who refuse the continuing revelation are said to be wearing the same veil that Moses wore (v.14-15) - the veil that is meant to conceal the glory that is passing away.  In fact, whether Jew or Greek, although Paul is speaking of the Israelite here, once we have placed this veil over our faces, only Jesus can remove it (v.14). Jesus provided the entrance through the veil, even His own flesh, to make the way by His blood to enter into the Holiest so that we might enter after Him (Heb. 10:19-20). Once the veil is in place however, we become "closed" to the glory of new revelation. It is a veil of separation, and not in a good way.
Even as Jesus was crucified, the veil of the Temple of God in Jerusalem was ripped open. But what did God's people do? They sewed the veil closed again. Are we saying that God's Word passes away, or becomes "old"? No, ALL scripture edifies, instructs, and corrects us. Neither do the Word contradict itself. However, we are expected to daily be ready to receive the new glories, the new mercies of God that are continually revealed through the Living Word - Jesus. No, the LORD "changeth not", but His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:21-24).
Even the manna from heaven, meant to supply the daily bread of the people of God as they traveled through the wilderness, though supernatural, could not be kept until the next day. Each day, the new manna had to be collected in the morning and eaten that same day. If the Israelites tried to keep the manna for the next day, it became worm-filled. The glory of the manna faded, and new manna was required. "Give us this day our daily bread." This was the prayer that Jesus taught. Each day has a provision from God to us: not only a physical provision, but a spiritual provision as well.
In fact, 2 Cor. 3 says that we can only be transformed into the same image of the Lord, from glory to glory, if we are willing to come before Him with an "open face", unveiled (v.18). The phrase "from glory to glory" in this verse indicates a progression in transformation, not trying to hide the glory that is passing away, but reaching for the new glory that our Father has for us each day. We are expected to go deeper, to go higher, to go closer, in our knowledge of Him. When we hold on to the glory that is passing away, it is because of our spiritual pride, a pride of revelation. As we hold to old revelation, the spiritual veil falls into place, and we are unable to receive the new, unless Jesus removes that veil from us. In the Body of Christ, separation, rather than unity is created by those veils of fading glory. From those revelations whose glory is passing away, traditions have formed, and doctrines have been set in place. "This is what the Lord revealed to us and we will not be moved from it!" But the Lord has something new to show us. Wouldn't you like to see what it is? That previous revelation was for our edification and glory yesterday. Father has new glory for us today, but we must come before Him with an open, unveiled face.

Our Father calls us to come before Him unveiled.

Special thanks to F.B. and G.S. for their thoughtful contributions that helped with this entry.

"Through The Veil"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz39eYoIxTA

Shema

 
Jesus was asked a question in Mark 12:28-31. The question was, "Which is the first commandment of all?". Jesus answered saying, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one." This response is known as the Shema, found in Deut. 6:4-5. The word "shema" comes from a word that means "to hear, listen to, obey, understand, give heed, yield to, cause to be heard". The scripture in both Deut. 6 and in Mark 12, goes on to say, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Jesus taught that these scriptures were the most important commandment of all.
It is not surprising that scripture also prophesies that in the end times, an event will occur that will be the breaking of these most important commandments before the eyes of mankind. This event is foretold in 1 Thess. 2:3-5:
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come (the Day of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ again) unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?"
We live in a time of the falling away from that foremost commandment as taught by Jesus. We are not "hearing and obeying and yielding" to the knowledge proclaimed by our Father that the LORD is one, and He is to be loved with our whole being - not just worshipped, but loved. The scene is set for the son of perdition to declare himself to be God, because that commanded love of our Father has grown cold (Mt. 24:12). This command is not even to all mankind. This foremost command is to the people of God- "Hear O Israel". We cannot point to the world and condemn them for breaking this commandment. This commandment is about the relationship that our Father expects to have with us - His own people. Once we step away from this commandment, once we distance ourselves from it, and refuse to yield to it, we set ourselves up to be deceived. We usher onto the world stage that one who will bring untold horror to the earth.
We may deny it, and we may say that this command is to Israel, and the Church is still obedient to the commanded love, but this would be incorrect. In Rev. 2 and 3, the resurrected Jesus reveals to His apostle the condition of the heart of His Church. One church is told "...you have left your first love." (Rev. 2:4). Another church is told "...because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." (Rev. 3:16). To each of the seven churches He commands "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." - SHEMA, hear, understand, obey.
Another great indicator that the love for our Father has grown cold is revealed by the commandment that Jesus says in Mark 12 is second in importance, but like the first: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." No one can deny that our love for our neighbor is lukewarm at best, and certainly not as great as our love of ourselves. Even the most "religious" among us cannot deny that. We have become isolated and distant from our neighbor. If we are not walking out the second most important command, it is because we are not walking in the first most important command. Without that love for our LORD, Who is one, we cannot and will not love our neighbor.
SHEMA Israel, SHEMA Church:

Our Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit are One, and we shall love them with our whole life, with everything within us. AMEN.

"Shema Israel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82JbnMWKtSE