Seeking God’s Presence
Exodus 33:12-16 (NLT)
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.’ 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.”
The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 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.”
Reflection
Moses understood the indispensable gift that God’s presence was in his life. He had come to know and believe that he, his life, his people, and his ministry were nothing without the Spirit being with them. We, at times, can slip into a very self-sufficient mindset where we think we can do life apart from God’s presence.
Begin this reflection time with first answering the questions below. Once you have taken time to answer the questions, dedicate a longer than usual amount of time to focus on being in God’s presence. First, start with the awareness that God is already with you, but you must be purposed to invite His presence to connect with you. Read your scriptures, pray your prayers, but also be deliberate about just listening and letting God minister to your heart.
Why did Moses so desperately NEED the presence of God in his life? What did Moses mean about being set apart (verse 16) with God’s presence? How do the truths you discovered in the first two questions apply to your life today? Do you have the same desperation for God’s presence in your life that Moses had? Why or why not? What has it been like for you when you have interacted with the presence of God in your life before? How could our deep need for God’s presence direct you to daily connect with Him?
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.’ 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.”
The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 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.”
Reflection
Moses understood the indispensable gift that God’s presence was in his life. He had come to know and believe that he, his life, his people, and his ministry were nothing without the Spirit being with them. We, at times, can slip into a very self-sufficient mindset where we think we can do life apart from God’s presence.
Begin this reflection time with first answering the questions below. Once you have taken time to answer the questions, dedicate a longer than usual amount of time to focus on being in God’s presence. First, start with the awareness that God is already with you, but you must be purposed to invite His presence to connect with you. Read your scriptures, pray your prayers, but also be deliberate about just listening and letting God minister to your heart.
Why did Moses so desperately NEED the presence of God in his life? What did Moses mean about being set apart (verse 16) with God’s presence? How do the truths you discovered in the first two questions apply to your life today? Do you have the same desperation for God’s presence in your life that Moses had? Why or why not? What has it been like for you when you have interacted with the presence of God in your life before? How could our deep need for God’s presence direct you to daily connect with Him?
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