However, as we explore these particular chapters, we’ll find that there is a lot of truth here left unexplored. We’re going to join the Israelites about 3 months after they’ve crossed the Red Sea and end with them only a few months later. I’ve been excited to see the fresh insight that I have gained from reading and studying these passages. I hope you will join me.

Reading for Today’s Study: Exodus Chapter 19

Let’s begin by reading Exodus chapter 19.

Key Verse: Exodus 19:4-6

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

The children of Israel have been set free from Egypt. They have seen God’s deliverance in a great and powerful way. God has set them free from slavery and delivered them by an unexplainable act of nature culminating in the death of every first born in Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. Sweet victory! They are free from their captors and heading to a wonderful new home that God has promised. What an exciting time! God is so awesome! Looking back, we can see His plan unfold.

In the 3 months since they walked through the Red Sea on dry land, God had provided food from heaven, water from a rock, and victory in battle when they were attacked by a neighboring tribe. They were traveling through the desert to get to the land God had promised and He provided for their every need. But if we look closer, we can see trouble brewing in the minds and hearts of God’s people. In Exodus 16:3, the people said to Moses,

“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever believed that at one moment God was up to something in your life, then the next moment felt like he was gone? I have. Why is it that when we are in the middle of God’s working in our lives, we cannot see it? We look at the nation of Israel and ask, “How could they miss it?” But we also so often miss the working of God in our lives. We forget that one of God’s aims is to reveal his glory in and through us (2 Corinthians 3:18). Do we trust him enough to believe that what is happening right now in our lives can be used for his glory? Do we believe that he is ultimately in control, and that someone could one day look back on our lives and say, “Isn’t it amazing what God did?”

What prevents this from happening? Let’s take a look at what went on in the hearts of the Israelites that led to so many of their troubles.

We join the Israelites 3 months into their trek. They have entered the desert of Sinai and God has summoned Moses up the mountain. The message of God is simple. Read the key verse for today, again (Exodus 19:4-6). Look at God’s message closely. He said that they would be his treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. What an astonishing promise! He is telling this nomadic people that don’t even have a land to call their own that they will always be special to him. He, the creator of everything, believes they are special. He has a great purpose in mind for them.

So often, we see our own tendencies and behaviors mirrored in the Israelite people. You will notice that we, like the Hebrews, are quick to claim the promises of God, without claiming the conditions of God. God’s only requirement for this most special of all positions was obedience. He said only “if you will obey me fully and keep my commandments.” God’s message was, “I am the great Creator, I am the deliverer, I am the sustainer and provider of all that you are and have. Listen to me. Do as I say. Not because I desire control, but because I know what is best for my creation. Don’t touch the stove that is hot, don’t run out into the street. Avoid the temptations and pitfalls of life that bring pain and hurts. If you will just listen to me, do not turn away from me, and do what is best for you, I will make you a special and set apart people.”

What will the Israelites choose? Verse 8 gives us their answer:

The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

God promised and the people responded, so far so good. Next week we will explore the people’s response. For now, spend some time thinking about the questions below and your response to them.

Thought Questions:

1. Have you ever felt like God was leading you somewhere? Why or why not?
2. What could the Israelite people have done to help them when they felt like God had abandoned them (Exodus 16:3)? How can we relate that to our experience when we feel like God has led us somewhere just to leave us abandoned and alone?
3. Can you think of a time when God was working and active in your life and you couldn’t see it until you looked back? Why couldn’t you see his action at the time?
4. What can you do today to be more aware of God’s working in and around you?
5. Do you feel like God’s message to the Israelites in verses 4-6 apply to you? Why or why not?

From Mere Christianity
By CS Lewis
Let’s play name that sin! Read the paragraph below and see if you can determine what vice CS Lewis is talking about?

The Great Sin

I now come to that part of Christian morals where they differ most sharply from all other morals. There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. (From Mere Cristianity by C.S. Lewis)

1. What is your response to this paragraph?  Were you surprised when you found out what CS Lewis is talking about?
2. How can we recognize this vice in ourselves?
3. We are going to hear more from CS Lewis on this great vice.  What thoughts and ideas stand out to you?
4. Are you, as Lewis suggests, more likely to notice this vice in others than yourself?  Has there been a time in your life when you have been painfully aware of your own struggles in this area?
5. What do you think about CS Lewis’ recommended first step in this area?

You can read the entire chapter on The Great Sin, here.

Verses on the topic:

Proverbs 11:12

Proverbs 13:10

Proverbs 15:25

Proverbs 16:18-19

Proverbs 18:12

Proverbs 29:23

Luke 14:7-11

 In Luke 14, Jesus gives us a practical example of how to handle this vice in our lives.  Discuss his solution and how it would apply to you in your life today at home, school, church, and on the job?

Has there ever been an instrument of mankind that has caused more damage than the tongue?  Today we’re going to look at a selection of verses from Proverbs and see what they say to us about mastering the unwieldy tendancy our tongue.

Today, I hope this cross section of verses will help you see how serious this issue is and the consistency with which the book of Proverbs addresses this topic.  God takes mastering our speach very seriously, therefore so should we!

Truth and Lies

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 21:6
A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare

Proverbs 16:13
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.

1. From Proverbs 6:16-19, what three detestable things in these verses are related to our tongues and/or how we speak?
2. Why do you believe lying is addressed so seriously here?
3. What does Proverbs 16:13 say will happen if you consistently speak the truth?
4. Do you struggle with telling the truth, and what can you do to improve in this area?

Holding Our Tongue

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 11:12
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

Proverbs 4:24
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

1. How should these verses impact how we speak and what we say to others?
2. Are you suprised at the number of times Proverbs references holding our tongue?
3. Is this an area of personal struggle for you? If so, why? What inner force makes you feel the desire to speak out rashly or thoughtlessly?

A Wise Tongue

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

Proverbs 10:14
Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Proverbs 20:15
Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

1. Have you ever thought about how wisdom is linked to how and when you speak?
2. How can you move toward having the kind of wisdom spoken of here?

A Calm Tongue

Proverbs 25:15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

1. What kind of impact could this verse have in your family, church, and professional life if applied consistently?

Flattery and Boasting

Proverbs 28:23
He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.

Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
someone else, and not your own lips.

1. What do you think Proverbs 28:23 means by rebuke? How do you apply this verse lovingly be and consistent with all of scripture?
2. How do the instructions in this verse contradict what our culture recommends?
3. Do you have a desire to praise yourself and point out your accomplishments to those around you? Why do you think Proverbs 27:2 recommends against this?

Self Study

Look at the following links to keyword lookups at Bible Gateway. There are three searches: one for the word ‘tongue’; one for the word ‘mouth’; and one for the word ‘speak’. Read through the verses in Proverbs that reference our daily speach. Are there others trends that you see that were not discussed today? What topics stand out to you?

• Tongue
• Mouth
• Speak

Post a comment below about what you observed from this brief overview in Proverbs.

A 38-year-old man is lying on the ground beside pool of water. He’s been taught since childhood that if the waters of this pool stir, and he makes it in first, he will be healed. Every day of his adult life he has come to this pool to lie beside it. Every day, there is a tiny glimmer of hope that today will be the day he is restored. One day, there is a commotion by the pool. Ailing bodies groan and move and push toward the water. There are splashes and shouts. But the man’s condition is so frail that he barely shifts his weight before others have made it in the water. For another day, his hopes have been dashed and discouragement takes its place.

One day a religous teacher walks by. He looks and that man and asks, “Do you want to get well?”

John 5:6-9

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,

Imagine what was going on in the mind of this crippled man. His entire life he’d heard people talk about the pool at Bethesda. If only he could be the first in the waters when they stirred, he’d be healed. At least, that’s what everyone said. But, his condition made it impossible for him to get into the water.

The ailing man heard Jesus question and responded with his evidence. You can almost hear the frustration in his voice when he described his plight. “I have no one to help me,” was his cry. His response could have been, “Why else do you think I’m down here every day?”

When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, he explained everything he’d done to try and get well. But Jesus wasn’t asking for what he’d done in the past, he was asking about the man’s desire today. “Do you want to get well?”

Today, Jesus asks me that same question.

• Do you want to leave behind your selfishness?
• Do you want to give up your life and follow me?
• Are you more interested in my name than your own?
• Are you willing to trade your comfort for my purposes?
• Are you going to have difficult conversations and speak the truth even when it will hurt?

God has questions for all of us. What questions does he have for you?

How do you respond?

So often, our response is just like that of the man beside the pool. We list the evidence that we believe answers Jesus’ question. As I look at my questions I want to answer the following:

God, I’ve moved away from my hometown to a busy city to follow you. I work hard to provide for my family. I give my time serving causes that bear your name. I teach a class. I talk to people about you. Can’t you see that I really do want to follow you?

But Jesus doesn’t want my resume. He doesn’t want a list of my accomplishments or great things I’ve done. Actually, to him they are like filthy rags. He wants to know if I want to be well — today. He wants to know if I will accept HIS answer for wholeness, not my own.

Today, I want to challenge you to think of the answers that you would give to Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be well?” Once you’ve listed all of the proof that you want to be well, throw all those answers from the past away.

Answer Jesus by saying “Yes!” Commit your life to him daily. Seek Him through his Word. Talk to him in prayer. Listen and obey moment-by-moment.

Tomorrow, when he again asks if you want to be well, forget what you’ve done today and answer “yes” all over again.

These questions ultimately lead me to ask questions about meaning and purpose. What does it all mean? Ultimately, does it matter if I get out of bed this morning and give it my all, or if I lay around and watch movies all day?

The book of Ecclesiastes speaks to these questions better than any other book in the Bible. The book is Solomon’s grand thesis on the meaning of life. If you have never read it, I strongly recommend it.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Solomon discusses pleasure, work, power and wealth and comes to the conclusion that they are all meaningless. He finally comes to this conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

Ultimately, what does God’s word say the answer is to finding meaning? “Fear God, and keep is commandments.” He sums up the meaning of life in 6 words. Of course, vaste tomes have been written on how to fear God and keep his commandments, but my suspicion is that its much simpler than we think.

Daniel 9:18 – 19:

O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name. (ESV)

In this passage, Daniel is beseeching God on behalf of his city.  Daniel was, by human standards,  a righteous man.  This is the Daniel who survived the lion’s den because he would not worship the statue erected by the king (Daniel 6).  He is the man who interpreted the king’s dream and saved all of the wise men of Babylon from extermination (Daniel 2).  He had a special relationship with God.

But notice, even as upright as we think that Daniel was, he didn’t appeal to God based on anything that he had done.  He doesn’t say, “God, I let them throw me in the den of lions when they wanted me to worship someone else.  I interpreted the king’s dream and gave you all the glory.  Now, God, it’s time for you to do something for me.”  Instead, Daniel appealed to God’s mercy.  That is really the only plea that any of us have.

Here are the questions I ask myself.  Sometimes, my answers reveal that I indeed still need God’s mercy.  What about you?

• Have you ever tried to bargain with God?
• Have you ever had a time when you asked God to do something for you because of what you had done for him?
• How do you feel about asking God to have mercy on your Community, City, Nation even if you don’t feel like you are part of the problem?
• What does it mean to you to appeal to God because of His great mercy?  Do you have to look at yourself differently in order to do that?

Colossians 1:9-14:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

This prayer that Paul prays for the people of Colossae has become a prayer for myself.  Let’s break down the things that Paul asks for here and see what they really are:

• Paul asks that they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through spiritual wisdom and understanding.
  I’m not sure about you, but that’s definitely something I want more of.  I go through times where I sense very clearly what I believe God’s will to be.  I feel his Spirit speak to me and the path ahead seems clear.  Other times, I’m not so certain.  Sometimes there are lots of options, none of which are bad.  But I don’t just want to choose an option that’s not bad; I want to choose the path that God has planned.  Sometimes, distinguishing between his will and my own is difficult.  That’s why this prayer is so important.
• Notice why Paul prays this. He says it is to bring about some specific things:
  • That they would live a life worthy of the Lord
  • That they would please Him
  • That they would bear fruit in every good work
  • That they would grow in the knowledge of God
  • That they would be strengthened with all power according to His might to bring about:
    • Endurance
    • Patience
    • and Joyful Thanksgiving

You can see that Paul’s intended outcome from this prayer is not that the Colossians would make the right decisions and find “The Good Life.”  He asks that these dear people would be prepared to live a life worthy of the Lord and that they would please Him.

He also says that they will bear fruit in every good work.  Notice that Paul doesn’t ask for this.  He says that bearing fruit will be the result of being filled with the knowledge of God’s will through spiritual wisdom and understanding.   Today, we would say that Paul is declaring that their ministry will be successful.  However, Paul’s definition of success is not a full ministry budget, or fancy logos and fliers, or even competent capable workers.  Paul cuts to the heart of the greatest priority which is that their ministry would “bear fruit,”  the best evidence of which is changed lives.

Paul goes on to say that this knowledge of His will bring about three enduring character traits:  endurance, patience, and joyful thanksgiving.

Thought Questions

1. In what areas of your life do you need the knowledge of God’s will?  Think about it.  Don’t just say every area.  Of course, we need God’s will in every area of our lives!  In what areas have you not allowed his will to penetrate?
2. Do you see any of the qualities that come from this prayer in your life?  Are those qualities increasing or decreasing?

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you  have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from roofs.

This snippet comes immediately after Jesus blasted the religious teachers of his day.  He has gone so far to warn the common man to be on their guard against the teachings of the religious leaders.  Wow!

I always make a special note of Jesus interactions with the religious people of his day.  Since my husband is a pastor, we take very seriously what God has to say to spiritual leaders.  We want to understand his words then and apply them to our lives now so that we can truly honor him.

One of my the greatest observations is that Jesus saved his harshest words for those in spiritual leadership.  In Luke 11:52, Jesus says:

Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.   You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are entering.

It is important to remember that the “experts in the law” weren’t lawyers as we understand them.  They were experts in the religious laws, the law of Moses.  These experts took God’s simple requirements and made them so burdensome that no one could meet their “religious” standards.  They were so restrictive that they actually blocked others ability to relate with God.

What does all of this have to do with me, my life, and our church?

I often ask myself, “if my private conversations were shouted from the rooftops, would they be hurtful to others?” Sometimes, the unfortunate answer is yes.  Inevitably, there are times when we all have problems with other people.  I believe it’s healthy and appropriate to go to someone we trust and discuss an issue that we may have.  And, while I’d rather not have that kind of conversation aired on Larry King Live, we should still be able to look the subject of our conversations in the eye afterward.  The realization that everything will be revealed provides motivation to watch our tongue and our actions.

As the church, we must take seriously the words Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of his day.  Me must examine ourselves to see if we have fallen into the self-righteous, holier-than-thou trap that is so easy in modern-day American Christendom.

I will end today with a question from Jesus in Matthew 7:3:

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Let us all step back and take a moment to examine ourselves.

My name is Phillip and I live in Galilee.  Several months ago, I started to travel around with a group of people following Jesus.  He is unlike anyone I have ever known.  He teaches about God, but not in the same way that our church leaders do.  He has changed how I see God and I how I see the people around me.  From Jesus, I am learning what it means to love the people around me.  He has taught us about so many things: about loving everyone, about forgiving those who hurt us, and about praying for our enemies.  He talks about the same God we have been taught about in the synagogue, except that his God is much more personal.  He is much less concerned about following a set of rules, and more concerned about my motives and my inner thoughts.  Our teachers only talk about rules and regulations, about duty and diligence.  Jesus goes beyond the laws and talks about our every-day lives.

Today we were all devastated when we heard that John the Baptist was killed by Herod.  I was a follower of John before I met Jesus.  But when Jesus came to the river to be baptized, John encouraged us to follow Jesus instead.  He said that Jesus was the one he was preparing us for all along.  Jesus went out on the boat to spend some time alone.  He does that sometimes when he needs to get away and think.  We tried to keep his departure quiet but the people were so eager to see him that they walked to the dock where he was landing and waited for him.  Thousands of them had come, all on their own.  Some were curious, some were sick, and some were just following the crowd.    Even though we knew he wanted to be by himself, he came out to be with them anyway.  He made many people who were sick well.  It was a thrilling sight to see.

As the day wore on, we became concerned about the people that had gathered.  There was nowhere to get food.  Thinking he was tired and didn’t realize the time of day, we reminded Jesus that it was getting late and we should call it a night.  We encouraged him to send the people away to get something to eat.  Jesus told us that we didn’t need to send them away, and that we should give them something to eat.

We really didn’t understand what he meant.  We searched around and found only five loaves of bread and two fish.  We discussed it among ourselves but didn’t know what to do.  We were concerned for the people, but also wanted to do what he said.  Finally, we told him that we barely had enough food for one meal and that there was no way we could feed all of the hungry people.

Jesus asked for the food from us and gave thanks for it.  We each took some of the bread and fish.  We did what he said, even though it didn’t make any sense.  The most amazing thing happened.   As I gave away each piece of bread, another one appeared in its place.  I didn’t see it appear and I can’t explain it, but I kept passing out bread and fish until everyone had some.

So many times when I have heard this story presented in church, the focus was on the lack of faith of the disciples.  Verse 17 where the disciples say “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish” is cited as evidence that Jesus’ followers really didn’t believe in his ability to do miracles.  I think when we take that condescending view of Jesus’ disciples, we miss a lot of the message for us as Jesus’ followers today.
One important observation is that although many people came out to be healed, the disciples didn’t expect to feed 5,000 people that day.   They were trying to learn to be obedient, and to be where Jesus was.  His closest followers weren’t there to see a miracle.  They wanted to know him and learn from him.

So often, we get this equation backwards.  We want to see miracles, so we ask Jesus for them.  Seeing the miracle becomes our aim, instead of the seeing miracle-worker.  We must first desire to be with Jesus, to walk where he walks, and to do what he does.  Miracles occur when we walk closely.  They happen when He has a greater purpose in mind, not because we want to see something great.

This is not to say that we should not ask God to move in mighty ways.   We rightly expect Jesus to do great things.   He always has and he always will.  We continue to pray that God will reveal himself to the world around us in undeniable ways.  I am only suggesting that we check our motives.  As a church, we will do well to heed the wise words of James when he said the following in James 4:2-3:

You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

This can be true even when we are asking for a miraculous display of God’s power.  Often our motives are more about our desires and our glory, even in asking for the miraculous.
With all of this in mind, what are we to do?  The answers come straight from God’s word:

1. Check your motives.  Just as James 4:3 says, we often ask with wrong motives.  When we ask God for something, why are we asking?  What do we want from God?  Is it for our renown or for His?
2. Ask God to give you the right motives.  As David prayed in Psalm 51:10, ask God for a clean and pure heart.  Ask him to give you His desires instead of your own.
3. Seek to be involved in God’s work without expecting personal praise or acclaim.  Read Matthew 6:1-4.

Thought questions:

1. Can you think of a time when you asked God for something with the wrong motive?  What was the result?
2. Can you think of a time when you asked with the right motive?  How was that answer from God different than your answer to question 1?
3. What can you do daily to ensure you keep pure motives before God?

Today we will focus on Exodus 33.  To provide some background, Moses has just discovered that the Israelites built the golden calf and worshiped it as he was on the mountain speaking with God.  Moses destroyed the calf, God threatened to wipe the Israelites from the earth, and Moses plead with God to spare them.  We now join Moses and God in their conversation in the aftermath of the Israelites idolatry.

In Exodus 33:1-3, God tells Moses to pack up and leave the place where they are staying.  They are to go to the land that God had promised and he will give them the land.  But God adds this caveat, He will not be going.  God explains that he will send his angel before them and they will have victory, but God will not go because of the peoples’ stubbornness.  God is very frank with them, in verse 3 God says, “I might destroy you on the way.”  God has decided not to go.

Moses is distraught by this revelation.  Verses 7 – 11 describe in detail how and where Moses would meet with God.  But verse 11 is particularly poignant:

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.   (Exodus 33:11a)

Moses went to talk to God.  Verses 12 – 17 contains one of the most touching conversations with God in the entire Bible.  It rivals any conversation that Jesus had with his followers while he was incarnate on the earth.  I will include it in it’s entirety here:

Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.  You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’  If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.  Remember that this nation is your people.”

The LORD replied, “my Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.  How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?  What else will distinguish me and your people from all of the other people on the face of the earth?”

And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

This communication is so moving, and so deeply touching that I have difficulty finding words to describe it.  Moses pours his heart out to God.  To me, the emotion is the same as the young woman falling at Jesus feet and washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair (Luke 7:36-50).  The outward expression is different, but the inward emotion is the same.

Moses cries out to God and makes his plea.  Moses is paralyzed without the Presence of the living God with him.  Moses never lost sight of the fact that it was God who freed the people from Egypt, it was God who provided the manna from heaven, it was God who met with him on the mountain.

The people always believed that Moses, and not God, had the power.  They could not see that Moses was only God’s vessel.  The reason they so quickly turned to idolatry when Moses was gone was because they believed in the man, not his God.  But Moses was different.  He understood that it was the power, the presence, and the leadership of God that set him apart.

Look at Moses’ question in verse 16, “What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

What an insightful question.  We must ask this question of ourselves today.  What distinguishes you and I from everyone else?  In modern American Christendom, we put bumper stickers on our cars, wear necklaces around our neck, bracelets on our arms, and t-shirts on our backs.  But often times, we are missing the very thing that Moses knew thousands of years ago.  It is only the presence of the living God that will distinguish us from those who do not yet know Him.

When was the last time you cried out to God and said, “If you will not go with me, I will not go?”  When was the last time that you pleaded with God to reveal himself to you?

Everything else pales in comparison.

I am writing this now in a time of great personal transition.  God is pulling us in a new direction, away from everything we have known and have come so accustomed to.  It is a painful, scary, and uncertain time.  It is also exciting and encouraging.  But especially now, my heart cries out, “God, if you do not go before me, I will not go.”

Thought Questions

1. What does it mean in your life for the Presence of God to go before you?
2. What thoughts, feelings or attitudes keep you from asking God to go before you?  His offer is available to anyone who asks.
3. What are some personal characteristics of one who daily lives in the Presence of God? (See Galatians 5:22-23)

I encourage you to post your comments, questions, or thoughts so that we can continue Discovering Together.