The instruction was clear: “depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘ to your descendants I will give it.’” (Exodus 33:1) Having left Egypt, Moses and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made a stop by Mount Sinai for Moses to receive some specific and needed instruction for the children of Israel. (Exodus 19-31) But the people became a little impatient and decided, with the counsel of Aaron, to make a god for them to worship (you remember…the golden calf god…off with the gold earrings and out came the golden calf as per Aaron), thinking perhaps that Moses was even dead, since he was gone so long. Furious with the people, Moses went straight to God and…prayed for the people! God’s response? “I’ve had it with these people, I’ll send My Angel before you to lead you to the Promised Land, but I won’t go lest I consume them on the way, for ‘you are a stiff necked people!’” Moses’ response? “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15) The Lord’s response? “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” (Vs. 17)
Wow! Moses did not take God up on His offer to allow His Angel to lead them, he begged for God’s Presence to go. And if God did not go, Moses did not want to go. But in light of the sinfulness of the people, how could a holy God go before them? They certainly did not deserve it; it was all because of God’s grace! While He never took their sin lightly (as He never takes sin lightly), He did declare to Moses more of His character saying, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Vs. 19)
None of us deserve God’s presence…none of us! His presence is really is His grace…a gift…a present, if you will. For the one trusting Jesus to take away our sin thereby making it possible to receive His righteousness, we have a promise. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b) How often do we take His presence, which really is a present for us, for granted? Moses would not leave Mount Sinai unless God went with them. How often do you acknowledge God’s presence with you? His presence really is a present not to be taken for granted! May you acknowledge His presence as your present today!
