If thy presence go not with me

Bible Reading: Exodus 33-35

Exodus 33:15-16 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

God told Moses that he was not going to go with the Israelites because they were stiff necked and he would have to consume them (Exodus 33:3).  Moses interceded with God and he begged him to not send them if God was not going to be in the midst of them.  Moses wanted to be with God.  He went to Pharaoh with the promise of God's presence as he went.  He led the people of Israel with the promise of God's presence.  He did not want to be without God.

This should be the case with every believer.  The mission is not only impossible without the presence of the Lord, but it is unbearable.  For the follower of Christ it is impossible to be without God's presence because the Holy Spirit dwells in each and every believer.  However, it is possible to grieve him and to quench him in our lives.  It is also possible to be more focused on the 'work' of ministry than on the leading of God's Spirit.  

It is not enough to work for God.  It must be God at work in us.  His presence in our lives is the motivation and the machinery of ministry.  He works in us.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Moses did not want to go if God did not go with them.  How is it with you?  Do you live each day basking in the love of God and enjoying his presence in all things?  Remember he has promised:

Hebrews 13:5b ...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

John 15:5b ...without me ye can do nothing.

We have Christ in us and we walk with him!

In Christ,
Rody