Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson
In my free ebook, “Scribal Purpose: 10 Reasons Why God Has Commanded Us to Write,” I talk about the extensive time Moses spent on Mount Sinai with the Lord receiving and recording the Ten Commandments.
As I reread this section of the book, Holy Spirit illuminated three pivotal elements of his scribal journey to me: (1) Moses identified, ascended and embraced his mountain; (2) He descended his mountain with critical instructions that would not only guide his journey, but help him guide the journey of a nation; and (3) God tangibly engulfed him in His presence throughout this entire act of obedience. (Note that when we use the term scribe in Voices of Christ, we are referring to many manifestations of the scribal gift – not just writing.)
Exodus 34:27-29 NIV describes the scribal journey this way:“Then the Lord said to Moses, Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”
There is so much in this to teach and clearly not enough time or space in this article. As a result, I am going to encourage you to read Exodus 34 in its entirety with a concentration on verses 27-29. After your reading, the points I have highlighted below will have greater significance.
Point 1: Climb “THIS” mountain.
I can’t speak to you enough about the importance of obeying God in every aspect of our scribal ministry. He has given each one of us a “mountain” to climb that leads to a specific seat of authority fit for us. Had Moses not climbed “THIS” mountain, he would never have had the “scribal encounter” along with the command to “Write down THESE words” that still define his ministry today. As you examine verse 27, note that God was not only directing Moses to write out his covenant with the children of Israel; but he was also making a covenant with Moses. Every step of your journey is a sign of a covenant God has made with you. Moses’s mountain was called Sinai – make sure you identify yours.
Point 2: Moses was “THERE.”
Moses wasn’t just “physically” in the presence of the Lord. He was also mentally and spiritually present! In other words, he was consumed by the will of God in the midst of his scribal journey, not just an obsession with the scribal project. We MUST learn the difference. This was not a task for him, a game or some other obscure activity for him. He recognized being “THERE” as a necessary part of his faith. Learn to be THERE or be “fully present” for God instead of always standing with one’s hands out to receive.
Point 3: Moses ENTERED a fast that God had chosen.
Fasting for me is not merely a ritualistic, traditional process of turning down food so I can get something from God that I believe I would not able to get otherwise. While this is a scriptural aspect of fasting (Isaiah 58), we turn down whatever feeds the flesh as an exercise to increase our hunger for God. This time of fasting not only becomes a time of flesh-denial and breaking; but it becomes an opportunity for us to fully receive what Father wants us to have that we might fully exemplify his righteousness. Fasting CAN ALSO BE a personal pursuit to concentrate only on God and your assignment. Through this type of sacrifice, Moses was able to access untapped revelation face-to-face with God. What will you lay down for this type of INTENSE encounter with God in the midst of your scribal journey?
Point 4: Moses ENDURED a disciplined 40 days and 40 nights.
After God called him to a fast, Moses made covenant with God for 40 consecutive days and nights. IMAGINE THAT! A FAST IN WHICH HE WROTE FOR 40-DAYS!!! God taught Moses innumerable lessons about trust, endurance and overcoming self while preparing him for the most significant aspect of his journey. His obedience gave him access to the specific things on God’s heart that were tied to not only his destiny and purpose, but that of a nation. Moses obeyed and HE ENDURED. We understand obedience in the midst of our faith, but endurance is sometimes overlooked. Endurance is a key to destiny.
Point 5: Moses experienced TRANSFORMATION.
Transformation awaited Moses in the midst of this scribal fast. It was not only a transformation that he experienced; but one that was experienced and visibly seen by others throughout his ministry by way of miracles, signs and wonders! Moses also experienced unprecedented REVELATION! Moses obedience led him into the presence of the Lord in a way that he was previously unable to access. Sometimes, God will lead us PRIVATELY in acts of extreme faith to reveal deeper realms of His glory in our lives.
Remember, Moses spent these 40 days and 40 nights engaged in scribal activity. The legacy of that one act led to the canonized 66 books of the Bible we have today! MY GOD… that scribal legacy is UNDENIABLE for those who believe. As he chiseled the words God spoke on these tablets – he was chiseling on hearts even before we were planted in the earth! Moses was becoming the message, not just the messenger with each stroke made. It is a process that still happens with us today. He wasn’t simply recording the words of God for himself, he was recording for a nation, recording for generations.
In this season, I believe Father is still speaking to us apostolically AS SCRIBES concerning Moses’s 40-day fast. This doesn’t mean you are being called to a 40-day fast, but it does mean that THERE IS A LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE that God wants to use in our lives to activate deeper realms of scribal ministry. Let’s look at what God promised would happen IN US and AROUND us through fasting. What Moses received through his time with the Lord was amazing! I can only imagine what he has in store for us.
Check out Isaiah 58:
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
“Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.”
One more note: This was the fast that GOD HAD CHOSEN for the time and circumstance these people were in at the time. I believe there is a fast that God can give us — based on this precedent — to push His purposes forward in our lives as well. Moses’ fast is an example of God calling a fast specific to him.
At the end of the day, I believe this is the end result of a Holy Spirit directed fast. I also believe Father is challenging his prophetic scribes in this hour to consider a fasting regimen that “he alone” will reveal that will last a duration, not just a day. Truly, God’s mercy and his grace is with us to break old patterns, methods, MIND SETS and systems that have been maxed out in this season of our lives, and release us into new understanding, wisdom and knowledge… fresh counsel.
No earnest pursuit of Christ that involves the denial of flesh is wasted in the eyes of the Father. It might take that for YOU to get where you need to be in your heart and mind toward God. Prophetic scribes, will you surrender to him your 40 days and 40 nights?
Also check out this excellent Bible Study outline on Fasting in the New Covenant.
