After doing so much for the Israelites, and painting such an awesome future for them, I believe that Moses just needed some reassurance from God that He wasn’t mad at them or considering cutting them off from His good graces. I sometimes question that myself, for God has blessed my family and I, my community, my church and those in my circle of influence, yet we can’t watch the evening news for all the crime and awful news that’s reported. As you meditate with me on this Scripture, let me encourage you to consider the grace of our loving God.
DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-03-01
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL
BY: Ed Algreen
SCRIPTURE FROM: Exodus 33:13-18
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)
BIBLE TEXT: 13 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.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 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 the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 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.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
APPLICATION: Moses had just gone through a very embarrassing moment where he came down from a serious meeting with God, only to find the Israelites in the middle of a huge party before the golden images they had created. Moses lost his temper, but he got rid of the idols and many of the people who were instrumental in leading the worship to these false gods. I believe that Moses felt a grave responsibility for the godliness of these people, so I’m sure that he must have felt very guilty in wondering how God must be taking this action by His people, so in order for him to continue the work, he needed to make sure that God would continue to lead them. Perhaps something like we call ‘a guilty conscience’ today, even though we see no indication that God was angry at Moses. But I love the words that Moses used as he pled with God. He wasn’t satisfied that he had a large following as they made their way through the wilderness, but he wanted it to be obvious that God was with them. In fact, Moses wanted the rest of the world to distinguish he and his group as the ones that had God as their protector, director and guide. Wouldn’t it be awesome for our community to refer to our church as the one down the street that is ‘led by God’? Wouldn’t our boss be impressed if he/she could look on us as the employee that showed obvious signs of having God lead us in every decision? Friends, instead of being afraid of preaching on our jobs, let’s be faithful in letting the world know what distinguishes us from the rest of the world. For I believe that as the world sees Jesus in and through us, they will be convinced to re-evaluate their need for such an awesome God.
BLESSING(S) NOTED: Just as Moses wanted, he and his people to be distinguished by the leadership of God, we too should make that our aim in life, if indeed we have given Him full reign to lead us.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord for being our Savior, our Director, our Protector and our Guide. You successfully led the Israelites through many, many, obstacles – in fact, too many for our simple human eyes to see, or minds to understand. So, Lord, I believe that You can definitely handle the obstacles, needs, frustrations, questions and impossibilities that my readers and I face today, for nothing is impossible with You. Oh Lord, may it be obvious to the world that You rule and reign your people, so that others may hear of You, and see You in action through our everyday successes and decisions. May they be convinced that they need You in their life also. AMEN!