Where’s God?
Exodus 33:1-4 (ESV) The Lord said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ 2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” 4 When the people heard this disastrous word (KJV: evil tidings), they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
When the Lord said that He would send an angel rather than go with the people Himself, they considered this an “evil tiding.“ Would we consider this an evil tiding, a disastrous word? Many today might be just fine with an angel helping them to accomplish the will of God. They would be in awe of it. They would feel no loss if God Himself did not personally step in and help.
The presence of God is not their priority; rather, it is the accomplishing of His will. This seems noble, but it is the presence of God that distinguishes God’s people from all the others on the earth. The presence of the Lord even distinguishes some believers from others.
Exodus 33:16 (ESV) For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
Israel, though they were stiff-necked and obstinate, considered this a distressing word, an evil tiding. It was not okay for the Lord Himself not to accompany them. They were distressed enough to strip themselves of their “ornaments“ and mourn. But many of today’s Christians continue in their works for God and don’t recognize that the Lord‘s presence is not with them.
Will we be as Moses in verse 15 of this chapter? He speaks to the Lord and says, “If Your presence does not go with us, then, do not send us up from here.” Do we realize that His presence, His Person, and the relationship that we have with Him is what makes the difference in our undertakings for Him? In Mark 16:20, we read that the disciples “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following.” The Lord will attest to the works He has authorized among those who abide in His presence. Without this, our labors in the kingdom are hollow at best.
