“We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength.” Charles Stanley
Seek His Presence
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14
Since their leader, Moses, had gone to meet with the Lord and had not returned, Aaron and the people of Israel melted all the gold from their jewellery to make a moulded calf and worshipped it saying, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:4) This grieved the heart of the Lord as the Israelites repeatedly failed to show their trust and faithfulness to Him, in spite of all the wonders that God had done in their lives.
Then God told Moses to leave Sinai and enter the land of Canaan but He would not go with them any more in case He consumed them because of their ‘stiff necked’ attitude; however, He would send His Angel before them to protect them from their enemies.
If Moses’ intentions were solely to possess the land flowing with milk and honey, or to be assured of God’s protection, he would have gladly received this offer of the Angel of God leading them. However, Moses had such a close intimacy with God that he communicated with Him face to face and it was not possession or protection that he valued, but the holy presence of God. Moses knew that God’s presence was his life-line causing him to say, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15)
May this also be our prayer for us today. Like the Israelites, have we been impatient and stiff-necked and made for ourselves golden calves that have removed us from the presence of God? The choice is ours; like Moses, let us realise the essence of the “Presence of God” in our lives and in our homes so that we may live a life that is set apart for Him.
Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day. May I find grace in Your sight so that Your Presence will never leave me – a pillar of cloud through the day and a pillar of fire through the night, guiding me always. Amen.
God bless you,
Theo & Manju