Downtown Mitchell First UMC
310 North Rowley, Mitchell, SD 57301
Rev. Keith Nelson, Lead Pastor
keith@downtownfirstumc.com
So, here’s my question of the day… “Where have you seen the backside of God, lately?” This question comes out of my personal Bible reading, where I am currently in the Old Testament book of Exodus. I’m currently reading at the end of Exodus, chapter 33, where Moses is asking God to not destroy the Hebrew people. What just happened previously is Moses was up on the mountain too long with God, or so the people thought. They figured he was dead or had run away. So, they convinced Aaron to make them a statue that would be their new God, since they were sure the God that brought them out of Egypt had abandoned them. Moses gets the word from God that God will indeed go with the people and guide them. Then Moses asks to see God’s glory. God responds by saying that Moses can see the backside of God’s glory, but not the face of God.
I’m intrigued by this passage and the wording. The face of God cannot be directly seen, according to the passage, but the backside, or the after effect of God, so to speak, can be seen. I’m reminded of an image from when I was growing up on the farm. Sometimes the corn would be really tall so we couldn’t see a car as it traveled the gravel road near our home. However, we could see the dust the car was kicking up as it traveled, so we knew a vehicle was passing by. In the same way, Moses wasn’t able to see the very presence of God, but Moses was allowed to see the after effect, the dust or residue of God, after God had passed by. Thus, my question, “Where have you (or I) seen the backside of God, lately?”
Actually, I have an answer to that question. Yesterday I was mowing the lawn. Yes, there were a lot of leaves on the ground and there were the usual fall colors of orange, brown, yellowish/gold, etc. But there was one bunch of flowers in Nancy’s flower bed that were the brightest and most vivid yellow. It was such an incredible contrast to the other fall colors. It was as if the sun was shining brightly on that one little spot of our flowerbed. It brought a brightness and sense of joy to the entire area. To me, that was the backside of God, showing up on a fall day to say, my presence and glory is still seen, even in the transition of seasons.
Or, I have seen the backside of God in the joy in a child’s eyes as they were painting a pumpkin at our Family Fun night here at the church just a couple days ago. The child’s eyes just sparkled with delight. Thanks Becky and the Family Ministry Team for making that possible. I saw the backside of God in a request that I received. Someone wanting a version of the Bible that is more readable because they want to be able to come to a better understanding of God in their life. That is a sure sign of the aftereffects of God present and at work in a person’s life.
I see the backside of God each time Love Feast is served, or the backpacks are given out. I see the aftereffect of God in the commitment of people to volunteer for Meals on Wheels. I see the glory of God revealed in the giftedness of our SS Teachers, in our various Musicians that help out in worship, I see the backside of God in the spirit of one of the saints of our church who responds to a favorite Bible verse, even as their own life is slowly ebbing away. I see the wake (like a boat wake) of God in the eyes and attitude of many who come forward to receive communion. I see the aftereffect of God in a person or two from our church and a team out on a mission trip, responding to God’s nudge to make the world a better place. I could go on.
Today, as we continue on our way in this day, I pray that all of our hearts, minds, and eyes will be attuned to see the glory of God, or the backside of God passing by in our midst. God is there…God is here…just waiting to be seen. Maybe we should start a “God-Dust” spot at church or on Facebook. A place where we could post where we’ve seen the presence of God passing by.
Pastor Keith