God’s Presence - Moses

Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.”

Exodus 33:15

The renowned British writer C. S. Lewis once wisely said, “He who has God and many other things has no more than he who has God alone.”

Have you ever been in a situation that made you realize how much you needed God’s personal presence? Sometimes life comes down on us so hard that we can do nothing but cry out, “I can’t do this without you!”

Moses had an acute sense of his need for God’s presence as well as his provision, promises, and power.

Experience brought him to that conclusion.

Moses had already endured a lot in his walk with God. He had fled for his life from Egypt, spent forty years living in Midian, faced down a stubborn Pharaoh, and seen God’s magnificent power in freeing his chosen people from Egyptian slavery.

Moses knew that none of those things could have taken place if God had not been with him, and the thought of doing anything without God terrified him.

God called Moses to lead the people of Israel out of bondage and into the Promised Land. As Moses considered the enormous task before him, he knew that he didn’t want to take a single step further without the assurance of God’s continued presence. If God wouldn’t promise Moses that, then this shepherd-turned-leader preferred to remain in the wilderness. Moses felt that the Promised Land without the Promise Giver didn’t hold much promise.

Moses thus arrived at precisely the place where God had wanted him all along. He realized that he wanted nothing more than to have God with him everywhere he went and in everything he did.

How much does the presence of God mean to you?

Think of someone that you believe clearly enjoys the presence of God. What makes this person different? Do people enjoy being around him or her? Why? What would it take for you to be someone who also clearly enjoys God’s presence?