His Presence Makes the Whole Difference
By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo
Exodus 33:14-15 “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.”
They were still on their journey from Egypt to Canaan land. Moses had been away in the mountain with God for one of the longest times. Aaron circumed to pressure from the people to make gods to lead them (?) since they didn’t know what had happened to Moses (and his God). An idol was made and worshiped. This greatly provoked God’s anger and He threatened to destroy them. He also wanted to withdraw His presence from among them. Moses, understanding what God’s presence meant to them, passionately petitioned God not to leave them, or else they wouldn’t take even one more step in the journey.
To Israel (and to us too), God with them meant protection from fierce enemies, provision of all needs, guidance in all endeavours, peace, progress and life itself. The Psalmist stated many dangers they faced if God was not on their side. He said their enemies would have consumed them (Psalm 124:1-5). David said in the presence of God is joy and pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11). When God seemed to have left him following the sin against Uriah and his wife, one of David’s key prayers was that God would not cast him away from His presence (Psalm 51:11). Jesus on the cross cried out to His Father asking why He had forsaken Him. David said he would not fear going through the valley of death shadows because God was with him.
His presence means life and everything to us. It’s important that we remain with Him more than gain the whole world without God, since even those things we gain are meaningless without Him. May that be your prayer and commitment, to ever live in His presence. “Without me”, Jesus said, “you can do nothing.”(John 15:5).
Psalms 27:4 “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”
Shalom children of God.