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“Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.”
On the morning of the third day, all the people of the camp arose expectantly. There were silent murmurings of what form this all powerful God would take today as He came to meet with Moses, their leader. The people knew this God, their God, to be a God of power and wonder. Only three months before, He had led them out of Egypt with many miraculous signs and wonders. He even came with them as a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night. God had fed them with manna and quail and had given them water to drink from a rock. Indeed they knew their God to be powerful and so they feared Him. To this slave nation, powerful people were people to be feared. They had no understanding of power that would not easily crush them as it would their enemies. So as they arose that morning and saw the thick clouds settled over the mountain top in a most unnatural way with lightning, thunder, voices, and fire, they indeed trembled.
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“Fear is not as strong as love, and is in fact its opposite.”
However, fear was not enough to keep the people of Israel from their old sinful ways. While Moses was still on the mountain talking with God, they had Aaron make them a god to follow and worship. From their gold jewelry, he made a calf statue. And together they worshiped the image of the golden calf, saying this god had brought them up out of Egypt. Even though they knew the God who led them out of Egypt was powerful, they turned away from Him time and time again. The Lord was showing His people His love for them in a powerful way through signs and wonders. But they disobeyed Him. However, there were some who knew Him in a more personal way who where the most faithful. People like Moses, Abraham, Joshua, and David. They were the most faithful to God because they knew Him the closest. Through a loving devotion to God, we can remain faithful to Him too, not through intimidation and fear. And because we know God, we love Him. One of the best ways we know God is by observing the life of Jesus. God knew that people needed to have a relationship with Him in order to truly follow Him. And He desired this as well so He created humanity. God did not want a trembling people who stood at a distance. He wanted friends who would draw near to Him in love.
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“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Muslims around the world today, most of whom are descendants of Abraham through his firstborn son, Ishmael, are trying to reach their god through righteous acts such as fasting during Ramadan. They are trying to approach God like servants. Muslims believe they are following the same God that Abraham knew, but the god they strive to follow is not the same as our Heavenly Father. Many Muslims are truly seeking God, and seeking to please God, but it is impossible to know the Father when you don’t understand that Jesus is the Son who fully represents Him. They don’t understand that Jesus — not fasting, works of justice, or pilgrimage — is the one and only way to God in heaven. However, when they meet Jesus, all of that changes. GCM has many wonderful real-life stories of Muslims who have found the love of God they always wanted in Jesus. And this is why GCM exists. We live and serve in restricted Islamic nations, bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who are searching for the truth.
Hear their stories
Read amazing testimonies of former Muslims who have come fully alive in Christ!