Reflected radiance

02 August 2023 Reflection

When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him.

When he finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. - Exodus 34:30,33

It has been several months since I last watched a regular TV program, and when I watched a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised at the number of new programs that were added. One thing that I noticed that is consistently present throughout every program though is the active presence of different commercials.

Beauty product commercials often catch people’s attention, especially women. There is this one brand that promises a radiant glow of the skin and will make the person youthful and energized. But in reality, the companies’ promise to deliver the desired result is basically just a marketing strategy to entice people to buy their product. Will there be a result of a radiant glow? Maybe, maybe not.

Today’s Exodus passage showed a different kind of radiance, the one that never disappears nor fades away. It stated the radiance Moses received as he spent days in the presence of God. Did he become young? Did his skin become like that of a baby’s? Did he achieve a youthful glow? The Scriptures did not specify.

But we can definitely surmise that the radiance Moses received was that of holiness and the illumination of the presence of God shining all over him.

I wonder what would my reaction be if I see Moses and his face glowing in grandeur and radiance. Will I be starstruck, or will I be in awe?

Apparently the Israelites felt otherwise.

As they saw Moses, they felt fear.

They did not even approach him until he called them to come near him. Because they were too afraid. As a result Moses had to cover himself in a veil.

There was Moses reflecting the very majesty and glory of God, and yet the people responded with fear. They feared him not because of awe and reverence, but because they were not ready to see God’s glory.

They looked at Moses with veiled hearts, so Moses had to cover his face as well to not overwhelm them with God’s presence residing in him.

The passage today is a great reminder to me about God’s presence reflecting through me and others. At times when I look at others, the initial reaction would be of judgment and criticism, and I definitely fail to see the light of Christ illuminating in them. As a result I see others not as a child of God, but as humans with their flaws and brokenness exposed. God’s radiance is hidden from my eyes, and my heart becomes veiled with pride and ego.

Yet, despite of this realization, today’s reading also provides me with hope and encouragement. Moses received the radiance because of his communion with God. Likewise, God’s radiance is not just limited to Moses only. It can also manifest to me and everyone else. Because the Holy Spirit lives in me and others who believe in Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, our potential to illuminate His light and His love is available and can be accessed for everybody to behold.

The question is, are we willing to receive God’s radiance and share it with others?

The central message of today’s passage is this:

We become what we behold.

And we should lean into the truth more often that what we hold on to firmly and dearly in our hearts and minds will reflect on us as a person. If we behold material things and pleasures and occasions of fear and anxiety and society’s perceived expectations, we become people of a broken world with veiled hearts, filled with fear and pride. But if we behold onto seeking, knowing, yearning, and actively pursuing Jesus, we become people whose image reflects Him and His glory. May we all choose to be the latter than the former: bold people who never have to veil our faces because we have the joy of the image of Christ reflecting in us, and people whose God’s presence is the light that shines in our very being.

Let us be the very image of Christ who radiates His brilliance for all the world to see.

Dear Papa,

I praise and thank You for guiding and inspiring me today. Today’s reading gave me a glimpse of the glory and radiance that can only be found in You.

Today, I pray that my eyes are opened and my heart be unveiled to see You radiated in others. Instead of focusing on others’ flaws and imperfections, may I see You.

Increase Your presence in me, Papa, so that every person that I encounter today will not see me, but instead see You.

When I look in the mirror today, may my focus be upon You instead of focusing on myself.

Use me, equip me, embolden me, empower me, so that Your face will shine in my life, and my life be a reflection of Your being.

All these I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, together with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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