In the Clift of the Rock

God’s servant Moses had asked that God's presence go with him on the way to the promised land. That presence and nearness was more precious to him than all other things here on earth. “To live apart from God is death.” No, it was not sufficient for him that the Lord would send an angel before him to drive the heathens out of Canaan. He was not satisfied with the promise that the Lord in this way would safely guide them into a land flowing with milk and honey. For what is the presence of an angel if the Lord will not go up in the midst of them? What is Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey for them, if they would not taste God's favor and love there, a taste which is sweeter than wine?

Oh, natural man would certainly have been content with such a promise. Heaven-seekers would be very pleased if they would receive such a guarantee that they would come there. But what is heaven without God, and what is life without His fellowship and love?

Therefore Moses said, “Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight” (Exodus 33:13).

Only God's presence could give him rest. Is that also true in your life, young and old? Have we come to the realization that the only true rest is in God Himself, in His work, His faithfulness, His unchangeable love, His presence? Here the cry of a longing soul is heard, a soul which is frightened by the thought that God will not go up in the midst of Israel. But what a gracious, precious answer Moses received, for God said, “I will do this thing also, that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in My sight and I know thee by name.” What a wonder for such an unworthy, guilty sinner, to find grace in God's sight and that the Lord knows him by name, that He will be gracious to him, and show him mercy, only for reasons in Himself, because of His good pleasure. Moses was a sinner who had lost all his rights, even to the least of God's blessings, pleading for a token of God's mercy, but knowing himself to be utterly unworthy of it. God is good for sinners. And when God shows His mercy, then there will be true satisfaction and fulfillment. And yet we hear Moses begging again, by asking “I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory.” How is that possible? Isn't it true that godliness with contentment is great gain? When God fills an earthly vessel with His love, nearness, and presence, then it is full, be it a small or a large vessel. Then why did Moses ask for still more? He said, “Shew me Thy glory.” That is, Thy glorious majesty, the brightness of Thy countenance. Oh, that Thy excellency may be seen, such as shall be seen in heavenly glory! Here we see that if the Lord gladdens the soul of His children with a heavenly visit, they are longing for more, not because it does not satisfy them, but because it makes them desirous for the perfect glory, for the communion with God, as it is in heaven. The apostle of love testifies in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” And that is the hope and the longing of the church militant on earth.

But the Lord answered Moses, 'Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me and live.” Moses, you cannot see My glorious presence; that is reserved for the future life. Who can stand before a holy God and live? And Moses, the mediator of intercession for a rebellious, foolish people, was also a sinner. A sinful creature would be consumed by the full display of God's glory, His holiness and majesty. Moses was also a mortal creature who would not be able to bear that full revelation of God's glorious presence. No, Moses, this is an impossibility. But behold, there is a place by Me. That is the place in the rock. Therein the Lord provides a hiding place. There He covered Moses with His hand while He passed by.

What a wonder for people who have willfully left their place by God, the place of His fellowship, His nearness and glory, and have chosen a place among God's enemies, but thereby also a place in prison, in bondage, in darkness, that there is such a place by God! Those who run away from God, from the house of the Father, may come back and receive a place by God again.

If the Lord opens our eyes and enlightens us by His Spirit, we will see the place we have chosen, also the place we have deserved. God brings the awakened sinner by the discovering work of the Holy Ghost to that place, where they testify with Micah, “I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him.” He bows under the justice of God and expects to be cast away forever because of his own foolishness and wickedness.

But to such humbled, lost sinners the Lord reveals, by the opening of His gospel, “Behold, there is a place by Me.” It is a purchased place, for God is righteous and cannot receive a filthy sinner into His communion unless satisfaction is given to him. But Christ left the place by His Father and voluntarily took the place of shame, under God's wrath. He took the place in a manger, in Egypt, in exile, in Nazareth, in deep humiliation, in Gethsemane, in the bonds, before the earthly judge Pilate. He took the place in darkness, at Golgotha, the place we deserved by our rebellion. He descended into hell, but is also exalted at the right hand of God. For by taking the place of condemnation, of eternal corruption, He purchased a place by God again for prodigal sons and daughters. Christ received the place of glory again at the right hand of the Father, but He also placed His Church with Him in heaven. In the rock was a place by God, a place for Moses, a sinner, but also for all who by grace may learn to seek that lost place by God again. Christ is the Rock of salvation Himself. He is the Man who is as “an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest” (Is. 32:2).

There is a people in darkness, in bondage, in the valley of the shadow of death, as children of wrath without any possibility of delivering themselves. But there is help laid upon One who is mighty. They will be set free, and He will be their hiding place. Blessed are they who are brought up out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay and whose feet are set upon a rock. There is but one foundation, and one Rock, that is Jesus Christ and His perfect atoning work. We read of that Rock also in 1 Corinthians 10:4, that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. In Him alone a guilty, condemnable sinner can stand before a holy, righteous God. Outside of Him there is no life but only eternal destruction of the soul. But in Him they will be safe and will be hidden from the wrath to come; in Him a holy God will not find any sin and iniquity in them, but He will be pleased with them because of the accomplished work, the complete satisfaction and obedience of the Lamb of God. What a wonder it is for a hell-worthy sinner when that Rock may be revealed unto Him! How much preciousness, willingness, suitability may he see in Him then! What room for the chief of sinners they may see in this rock! It is as if all their sins are taken away and their leprosy is washed away.

But Moses needed a place in the clift of the rock. There he would be covered with the hand of God's love, grace, and good pleasure, and there only would he see something of the glory of God, His back parts, when the LORD passed by. Christ is the Rock which was stricken by the rod of God's anger, as the rock in the desert out of which came that refreshing water for a thirsty, wearied people. Christ is the Rock in which is now a clift, a hiding place for those who cannot see God and live.

Oh, my friends, we all have to see God! We all will be called to appear before Him; no one can escape, and no one can stand before Him and live unless we are hidden in the Rock. No other hiding place will be safe, or sufficient. Neither is there salvation in any other, for “there is none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” Our church membership will not suffice, neither will our outward profession, our legalistic works, not even our tears, our change of life, our experiences, the promises given unto us, our conversion, our office, for they are not the Rock. The revelation of this Rock is such a wonder for the soul that they may sing and speak of Him in those days and that with liberty, gladness, and joy. But we must be hidden in the Rock. When that need is shown unto us and the necessity of it is experienced, we cry out with Hezekiah, “O, LORD, I am oppressed, undertake for me.” Then we will not have rest for our soul, but will seek to be hidden in Him. But yet, with all our seeking and wrestling, with our hungering and thirsting we cannot bring ourselves in this Rock. That is His work alone. Blessed are they who, as that dove sent forth by Noah, do not find rest for the sole of their foot, but fly near that ark. Oh, the hand of the Greater Noah will at His time take you and pull you unto Him, into the ark. That is an eternal wonder of grace and mercy. There they may rest in Him, in His atoning work, may be safe in the Rock. That is what we also read here, “I will put thee in a clift of the rock.” Many are they who just climb over the wall, or bring themselves into a hiding place, who take Jesus, accept Him, and deliver themselves. Oh, what a self-deceit this is! My dear friends, that may look like this clift of the rock, but it is not really the God-given hiding place. God’s way of salvation is different. God saves and delivers a poor, helpless, stripped sinner who can never deliver himself, who loses all his supports, his hope, his conversion, yes, even his life. But then the Lord takes over and delivers him, so that he will not descend into corruption. He puts such a soul in the clift of the rock who has experienced that the sorrows of death compassed him and the pains of hell got hold upon him, who found trouble and sorrow. He is that Rock Himself. He saves sinners alone and completely by giving them a place in the clift of the rock. They may then see God’s glory, the LORD, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth (Exodus 34).

He is a God who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin, although He will by no means clear the guilty. Oh, who is a God like unto Him, and that for a stiffnecked people. He pardons iniquity and sin and takes them for His inheritance. That is confirmed and sure in the covenant which He made, a covenant confirmed with His oath and established in Christ’s blood and sacrifice. Oh, then “the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but the LORD’S kindness shall not depart from them, neither shall the covenant of His peace be removed.”

Oh, happy Moses, blessed people, who may long for the place by God. They will see His glory, here in part, but once most perfectly. Then they will worship Him, who prepared, and purchased and provided such a place for them.

Rev. C. Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

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