Pastor Jim’s sermon on September 7, 2014 had the strange title of “ET Meets Michelangelo.” It was based on Exodus 33:7-11a. Click the “Play” button below to start listening to the recording, scroll down and follow along.
Click the “down” button below to open up the scripture…
Scripture
Exodus 33:7-11
7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.
8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.
9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.
10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.
11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. NIV
God Speaks to Moses as a Man Speaks with His Friend…
How do we show affirmations of love today? Hold hands? Shake hands? Fist bump? There’s something wonderful about the human touch. Not the wimpy “fish handshake,” but a warm hug or firm hand shape. The Gospels constantly relate how Jesus touched people. But in the community of faith, it seems we’ve lost our sense of touch.
E.T….
At the end of the movie, there is a very tearful moment when Elliot says his last goodbye and the little creature takes his little finger and touches Elliot’s forehead. It’s as if his little companion from beyond is restoring life to him.It’s as if he’s saying, don’t forget. Always remember the relationship we had and the relationship we will always continue to have. Always remember how our lives kept interacting with each other. It’s as if this touch sealed the deal.
God can use anything to communicate a message to us; if we let the Holy Spirit talk to us. God can use a touch. Or even a movie. Or art…
…Meets Michelangelo…
Michelangelo’s frescoes on the on the ceiling (and walls) of Vatican’s Sistine Chapel depicts another interaction of fingers. It took Michelangelo about 4 years of lying on his back to complete the paintings. Imagine the love that went into that… imagine the touch of God that he must have experienced while doing that.
God is always perusing us. His love will not allow him to do anything but to be constantly coming at us. Ephesians 5:14 says “sleeper- rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.” The light and love of God is always ready to shine on us if we are open to Him.
In the center of the ceiling is the famous image of God giving life to Adam. There are several things to notice about this image…
1: God’s Right Arm
God’s right arm is outstretched to Adam. The right arm symbolizes power, authority, someone in control. God’s muscles are straining to reach out to Adam. There are many verses in scripture that speak about God’s mighty arm of protection…
Stephen in Acts 7, while he was being stoned, used his final breaths to share his vision of of the glory and power of God’s right hand. God has power, authority, and control. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God our Father. Jesus is our Savior! He intercedes for us, and He’s at God’s right hand. That should give us confidence!
2: Adam
Note the posture of Adam. He’s kind of reserved. Just kind of chillin’. Almost disinterested.
Notice the separation between God and Adam. There is a gap between humanity and God that was brought about by sin. Don’t blame Eve alone for eating the apple (Genesis 3). Eve was the seed, but Adam willingly disobeyed God. Adam made excuses, tried to pass the blame. But like Adam, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Genesis 3 tells us how Adam hid from God. Adam was constantly in retreat. But like Adam, God is constantly pursuing us no matter how we try to run away.
God’s finger and Adam’s finger aren’t touching. As Jesus said in John 15:8, apart from Him we can do nothing. How many times do we try to do things apart from the will of God and it just blows up on us? We can’t bear fruit by ourselves. We must be connected.
3: The Face of God
God has a determined look. He’s less interested in the heavenly hosts surrounding him than in the one who is in need. His focus is to find that one lost sheep; one lost coin; one lost prodigal (see Luke 15), than He is in the heavenly glory and splendor surrounding Him.
How many people do we look at on an every day basis… are they just as lost as Adam in this picture? Are we acting to reach out to people.
In Philippians 3, Paul tells us to forget all that’s behind and strain ahead towards our calling in Christ. God wants to put our sins and transgressions behind us so we can walk forward.
God’s not texting! He’s looking right at Adam. “Cumm’on. Look at me!”
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The Face of God is looking at us all through all of life’s nights. The face of God is always determined to be seeking our best interests. Ex. 33:11- God speaks face to face as a friend. No matter what we’re experiencing, God’s face is always there. His presence goes with us. He’s ever ready to give His His touch. He wants to dwell with His people…
When God is calling Moses in Exodus 3, He says that He has heard the cries of His people and that He will come down to deliver them.
If God is willing to do that, that same God is willing to come down to show His face in our situation and to reach out his finger to deliver us in whatever we’re facing in life.
You and I have been asked to get out of our comfort zone and reach out to a lost world and apply the touch and light of God.
