“And He said, ‘My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.'” Exodus 33:14
Dear Ones:
Moses, like Elisha, came to know through revelation and experience, that there are certain things that are imperative to KNOW, with regard to walking before, and with God. For Elisha it would be the “double portion” of the Spirit, that measure of the Spirit given to Elijah. For Moses it would be the knowledge of the WAY of God, for it is only in knowing the truth of His way that His blessing will be revealed. So, Moses prays to God: “If I have found grace (favor) in your sight, show me now Thy way, that I may KNOW Thee.” (Ex. 33:13) The Lord would respond in a very explicit manner: “My PRESENCE shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” He basically is giving the same response that the Lord Jesus gave to in answer to Thomas’ question: “…how can we KNOW the way?” He responds: “I am the way.” (John 14:6) What is God’s way? It is God Himself, His person and His presence, not a thing, imagination, or concept. Christianity IS knowing and walking with a Person, the Person of Jesus Christ. But what characterizes the man or woman who is truly seeking God, to know Him? The answer has to do with RUNNING.
In the book of Genesis, we see three “angels” coming to meet Abraham “in the heat of the day.” Abraham is seated at the entrance to his tent. He is about ninety-nine years old. When he recognizes the Lord among the “angels,” he rises up and RUNS towards them, and bows down. Why? He is overwhelmed at the conscious reality of God’s presence. About forty years later, Abraham’s oldest, and most trusted servant, is sent on a mission to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham’s son. He is a prayerful man, and asks God for clear guidance in this task. At one point, he rises, and RUNS to Rebekah, asking her for a drink of water. Rebekah in turn, will offer to draw water for all of the servant’s camels. She also RUNS, in this case to serve. Why are they running? The servant is on a heavenly mission where the presence of God is very real to him. Rebekah, in response to such an unexpected event, being persuaded of he hand of God, is also convinced of the presence of God. She was a woman of faith, for she would never have gone with this servant, had not she believed that God was in the meeting and circumstance from the very beginning. Lastly, we see young David actually RUNNING toward’s Goliath, a defiant, and mortal enemy, to do battle with him. Again, here is an individual who is persuaded of the presence and blessing of the Lord to the point that there is absolutely no reservation in his heart. He therefore RUNS. For all of these individuals, God IS their way. They cannot fully understand all that it is involved in the situation, but they KNOW and are persuaded that God is with them, is FOR them.
Dear Father, we know that You are only known according to Your way, and Your way is Your presence WITH us. We thank Thee that You are in us by the Spirit, and that nothing is impossible to you. Therefore, nothing is impossible for us by the Spirit, according to the will of God. Strengthen us to LIVE in the reality of Your presence and blessing. Then others will see and know the reality of WHO Thou art, and come to believe in Thee. We praise and thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad