God is with us

The presence of God makes all the difference in the world. But sin separates us from His presence, We are reading from the book of Exodus 33-36. In Exodus 33 the LORD is doing what He promised Abraham. He is leading His people to the promised land God tells Moses to go up with the people but then says he would not go with them. This is in Exodus 33:3-4 CSB:

3 “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise,                                                                                                   I might destroy you on the way.” 4 When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn’t put on their jewelry.”

God is with us as we seek Him.

Moses pitched a tent outside the camp and would go and meet with the LORD. 11 “The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend, then Moses would return to the camp. His assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.”

Moses went in to make an appeal to God that He would go with them, which brings us to the Scripture of the Day Exodus 33:12-16 (NLT):

12″ One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ 13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And  remember that this nation is your very own people.” 14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

(CSB: says my presence with go with you). 15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth. 17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”

Moses’ request to know God’s ways is beautiful. When we love someone, we want to know all about them. We are fascinated by them. Is this how we feel about God? Moses said he wanted to understand God more fully.

Knowing God is not the same thing as knowing about God.

The CSB of these verses says in v. 13, “3 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”

When God is with us—His favor is, too.

Moses wanted to continue to enjoy God’s favor. When we walk in relationship with God, we walk in His favor. Why would we ever want to leave that or Him? We get deceived by the enemy of our souls. Moses asked God to go with them. This is something God has promised us. God is with us.

God said that he would personally go with Moses. How about us? Do we really want to know God?

God is with us—Are we with him?

The presence of God is with us, friends unless we allow sin to separate us from God. It is God’s presence among us that sets us apart from the world.

God is with us and in us.

We are carriers of His presence! Christians were not meant to “fit in” and be worldly, but to be other-worldly. As Moses said, “For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth. We see this beautiful relationship between Moses and the LORD played out in Exodus 33. Moses asks to see God’s glory. When we love someone, we want to see them. We want to know them more. For us, this would equate to spending time with God in His word, praying to Him.

Scripture of the Day: Exodus 33:13-16

“18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.” 19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  20 But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” 21 The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

Can We See God?

“”Nobody has seen him, and nobody can see him (1 Timothy 6:16). People can see something about God only when he has passed by them. They can remember his actions in the past. And they can realize his great kindness to them. Then they can begin to understand how he loves them. The best knowledge about God’s character came with Jesus Christ. Those people who saw Jesus had seen the Father (John 14:9).” (Easy English Bible Commentary)

Application:

• God is with us—Are we with him?
• Knowing God is not the same thing as knowing about God.

There is an invitation for you today, friends, from the Lover of your souls. Will you accept it? God is with us—are we with him? Knowing God is not the same thing as knowing about God. And a relationship with God is the most dynamic, intimate relationship we can ever have.

7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan

Day 148: Exodus 33-36

Scripture of the Day: Exodus 33:13-16

Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Exod.33

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