Light-up Shoes and Radiant Faces

When Kym, our oldest daughter, was about two years old, light-up shoes that glow with every step were already popular, even in the Philippines. We bought her a pair, and her excitement and pride showed clearly on her face.

Perhaps she felt like just another child on the block—until she put on those “cool” lighted shoes that seemed special, almost magical in her little world. To her, they were a treasure. Even now, I still marvel at how something so small could bring such wonder to a child. There is something beautiful about that innocent joy—something almost sacred in its simplicity.

But in Scripture, we see another kind of "glow" that led to a very different reaction. After Moses spent forty days and nights with the Lord on Mount Sinai, his face shone when he came down from the mountain (Exodus 34:28–29). The Bible says he was there without eating bread or drinking water, kept strong by God's presence. When Aaron and the leaders of Israel saw Moses' shining face, they were afraid to approach him (Exodus 34:30).

Unlike Kym’s joy over her glowing shoes, the people reacted to Moses’ shining face with fear and hesitation. They came when Moses called, but approached him carefully. After he spoke to them and shared all that the Lord had commanded, Moses put a veil over his face so the people would not be afraid (Exodus 34:31–33).

What caused Moses’ face to shine? Scripture makes it clear: it was the Lord's reflected glory. Moses did not manufacture that radiance. It was the result of being in God’s presence. He had the glory of God left its imprint upon him. The people of Israel knew: Moses had been with God.

Let us keep spending time with Him today. When we are with God, we may not have glowing shoes, but we will carry a light that the world cannot ignore.

-Pastor Lim