Day Thirty-three

“Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us,
do not send us up from here.’” (Exod. 33:15)

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:1–17

Moses had a remarkable relationship with God. The Scriptures tell us “the Lord would speak to Moses face to face” (v. 11). Moses did not see God’s face (see v. 23); rather he experienced an indescribable level of intimacy that comes from two having their full attentions and expressions turned toward each other. “The Lord would speak to Moses . . . as a man speaks with his friend” (v. 11).

Mind you, the Scripture doesn’t say Moses spoke to God as one speaks to a friend. The amazing statement is that God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend. The passage describes God talking friend-talk. I can hardly fathom it. So deeply involved were God and Moses that the weary servant could not bear the thought of proceeding a single step without God’s presence.

God promised Moses He would send a mighty angel before them and guide them to their God-given destiny. He assured Moses of success—but Moses didn’t want good results. He wanted God. The old man’s example raises quite a standard for us today. Would we be content for God to simply assure us of personal success and victory in reaching our divine destinies? What if He also promised the security of a mighty angel constantly paving the way and fighting our battles for us? And what if there was just one catch—we would not experience the closeness of God’s presence? How would you feel if God promised you success and victory but without His presence?

Would we know the difference? Would we go on reluctantly? Or would we trade in every victory, every dream come true—our chosen destiny—just to enjoy His presence? Difficult questions. But I think if we knew God—really knew Him so well He felt He could talk to us like a friend and share HIS heart with us as we share ours with Him—we would trade in everything just to enjoy His presence.

Once we grow accustomed to God’s presence in our lives and He becomes our most intimate companion, we are inconsolable outside His presence. By presence I’m not referring to salvation; I’m referring to a sense of His presence through a face-to-face, intimate relationship. We will not desire anything to quench the awareness of His nearness. And when we do smother that awareness with our own selfishness, we will run with repentance. We will not want to make a move without receiving an answer to this question: “Is Your presence going with me, God? If not, keep me in the wilderness, seal away the milk and honey, keep the Jordan from my sight. For if Your presence does not go with me, do not send me from here.”

The land of promise is the land of His presence. Without Him, what, indeed, sets anything apart?