MAllon En Doxe (Part One)

Mallon En Doxe
Part 1
Moses sat on the stone where he had left his sandals. He placed them on his feet and
began lacing them up. The sunrise had burst across the plateau below, leaving streaks of light
and shadows in a tigerlike pattern. The different hues and light against the mountain created a
majestic sight. The two stone tablets were leaned up against the rock he was sitting on. The
distance down the mountain seemed forever far. He picked up the stone tablets and let their
heavy weight lean against his chest. He embraced them and closed his eyes, remembering the
glory, the contentment, the peace and fulfillment in God’s presence. It overwhelmed him as he
thought of his people below. How could these stones and letters show them what he had
experienced? They would only be able to sense that in Him or hear it in the truth of his voice. He wanted them to know God. He was different now, having been in God’s presence. Would the
word change them as God’s presence had changed him.  He held the tablets a little tighter and
his quiet sobs muffled against the stone as he started down the mountain. 
Moses did not know that his face was shining with glory from the time he had spent with
God. The relationship God had with him was evident. The law was necessary, but it was only
the covenant relationship that could make the people shine. When Moses arrived people,
they were afraid of him and would not come near him. He finally convinced them to come near,
and he taught them the law they were to keep. He then put a veil on his face to cover the
shining glory. 

Paul, the great first century missionary tells of the glory and Moses’ veil to highlight the
difference between the covenant of the law and the new covenant with Jesus. In 2 Corinthians
Chapter 3: 7-8 he explains, 
“But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so
that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of
the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the
ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?” 
So the glory on Moses face was fading and this was hidden by the veil. The glory of the
old covenant did not last. The glory, the pleasure, the peace and the fulfillment come to
us as we experience God’s presence, as we spend time with Him. So often the rigid
requirements of religion get in the way of the world seeing Jesus in us. His glory shining.
His love being expressed to them as His presence is in us. Jesus says in Matthew 5:16,
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your

Father in heaven.” and Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:9, “the ministry of righteousness
exceeds much more in glory.” In Greek it is “Mallon En Doxe!”