The two types of trials
Preaching Outline on Exodus 24:18 – “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, after he was come up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”
Introduction to Exodus 24:18
God gave Moses a command: “Go up the mountain.” But this command was not given randomly. There was a whole process, a careful preparation before that decisive moment.
Sometimes God also calls us to go up to the mountain. He wants us to be more intimate with Him, to dive deeper into His presence and experience transforming revelations. However, Moses didn’t know that he would remain there for 40 days and 40 nights – a symbolic number that points to the trials we go through on our spiritual journey.
These periods of trial are times when God shapes us, refines us and prepares us for greater purposes.
The question is: how have you faced these trials?
Development
We all long to see the glory of God, don’t we? We all want to be servants filled with the Lord’s power. However, in order to achieve this, there is a price to pay: trials. And here’s the crucial point: we’re not always willing to face them.
1. The 40 Days
The 40 days represent the first types of trials we face as we seek a more intimate life with God. These trials are related to the obstacles that arise to keep us from God’s purpose. They can come from people close to us, such as family or friends, or even external situations, such as financial difficulties, doubts or internal conflicts.
Practical examples include:
- Persecution because of faith.
- Family resistance to our search for God.
- Obstacles to attending church or dedicating time to prayer and studying the Word.
These 40 days are defining moments. God is observing whether we are really committed to him or whether we are going to back down in the face of difficulties.
2. The 40 Nights
The 40 nights symbolize another dimension of trials: those we face because of the prophetic moment in which we live. These are times of darkness, intense hardship, persecution and beginnings of pain. However, the night also carries the promise that the day is coming.
During this period, God tests us to prepare us for the next great prophetic event: the Rapture of the Church. It is a time when the faithful servant is refined, purified and strengthened to live the last days before Christ’s return.
The night may seem long and challenging, but it has an eternal purpose. God is working on us to make us ready to meet Him.
Conclusion of Exodus 24:18
Every day, we are faced with two types of trials:
- Evidence for definition: To confirm our commitment to God.
- Tests for preparation: To shape us and prepare us for the Rapture.
Moses faced this sequence: one day, one night; another day, another night… And so it went on, until he had completed the 40 days and 40 nights. Curiously, he didn’t even notice the time passing, because he was immersed in God’s presence, protected by the cloud of divine glory.
This teaches us: only one church will be able to withstand these trials – the one that is firmly planted in the middle of the Cloud, filled with the Holy Spirit, in total communion with God.
May we seek this intimacy with the Lord, trusting that he is with us in every trial, sustaining us and preparing us for the eternal purposes he has for us.
Amen.
Preaching Outline on Exodus 24:18 – “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, after he was come up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”
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