In Exodus 33:3 the Lord told the children of Israel that He would not go with them into the land. In verse 12 Moses said to the Lord, “…You have not let me know whom You will send with me…”
Verse 13 is a great verse that we can adapt for our own prayer. It says, “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight…”
Verse 14 was the Lord’s response, “…My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Verses 15-16 are Moses’ statement of faith. “Then he said to Him, If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”
The Lord answered Moses that He would do as he asked, because he had found grace, and He knew His name. That must have thrilled Moses’ heart because his next words in verse 18 says, “…Please show me Your glory.”
The Lord said that He would make all His goodness pass before him, but that he could not see His face. Then in verses 22-23 He said, “So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
I smile as I read those verses. That was a tangible experience for Moses. Yet, this side of the cross, the Lord’s Presence is always with us. The breath we breathe is filled with His Presence.
We never have to ask Him to be with us because He is. However, there is a tangible place in His Presence through intimate communion. It is Heart to heart connection. It is His breath upon our unveiled face. His whispered words of love are like warm oil that flow over our heart. It is that secret communion of a Friend speaking to a friend. There is nothing on this earth that can rival it. Psalm 73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but You, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.”
M's Creations 