EXODUS 33:14 | PRESENCE & REST
In Exodus 33:14 ESV, Moses was praying to God and interceding for the people of Israel. They were stuck in the wilderness, and at an impasse with God, and Moses was crying out on their behalf for help and guidance. At that moment, God said to Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
In moments of chaos and weariness, the soul cries out for God’s presence and his rest. Seasons of wandering weigh on our hearts. They drain our energy and our drive. At some point, we may get to where we don’t think we can go on anymore.
This is where we can learn a lesson from Moses. On the mountain with God, he speaks plainly and humbly. He says in Exodus 33:13, “Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways.” He acknowledged how stuck in a rut his people were, but his heart was set on knowing God.
Despite the bleak situation and the weight of great responsibility Moses had as a leader, he didn’t lose sight of God’s glory and presence. He cried out for it.
Something I’ve noticed about the great characters of the Bible, like Moses and David, is that their attention is always set on knowing God more deeply. When others think of strategies and solutions, they press on to know the Lord.
When we get stuck in situations we cannot overcome, small or big, it is easy to stress out and give into chaos. Most often, this amplifies the problems and masks the path forward. The more confusion and anxiety we live in, the more it feels like there is no possible way out.
We have a renewed perspective when we receive God’s presence and rest. God responded to Moses with a promise that I believe can echo into our lives today. Can you hear the voice of the Lord speaking to Moses? Perhaps you want to pray Moses’ prayer, “God, show me your ways!”
His presence and rest are available for you today. Ask, listen, and receive.
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