Exodus 33:13

The real question is not whether you know about God. Do you know God personally? If you live in the presence of God, you need nothing more—and you should settle for nothing less. Worship is enjoying the presence of God.

A Terrifying Thought: Life without the Presence of God

The Jewish people are in the wilderness. In the middle of their journey to the Promised Land, they sin terribly against God, by creating and worshiping a golden calf.

“They said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’…Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (Exodus 32:4b,6).

Moses came down off the mountain with the Ten Commandments and saw this orgy going on. “Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin” (Exodus 32:30). He pleaded with God.

God answered, “I will not destroy them. But…" He told them: “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” (Exodus 33:3, Emphasis added)

“I am not going with you.” These are some of the most frightening words in the Bible.

“When the people heard this bad news, they mourned” (Exodus 33:4a). It is an evil thing to have gifts without the Giver. What made Israel different from the other nations? The presence of God.

Thank God, Moses had enough sense to say, “No deal.” He said to God, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here” (Exodus 33:15).

 

How to Stay in God’s Presence

The same things that caused God to withdraw His presence from Israel will also rob you of God’s presence. If you don’t feel you know God personally, ask yourself these four questions.

1. Have I Disobeyed God?

“The LORD said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them” (Exodus 32:7-8a).

The Holy Spirit is the manifested presence of God in your life. If you willfully disobey God, you quench the Spirit. 

Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21).

2. Is My Devotion to God Divided?

The word “Israel” means “the people of God.” Yet they made for themselves a god that was no bigger than their own imagination.

There might be a golden calf in your life. Anything that you love, fear, or serve more than God is an idol. Answer this before God: Is there anything in your life that gets more of your attention than God does?

3. Do I Depend on Something Other Than God?

“They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’” (Exodus 32:8b).

When God brings you through the storm, and then you give credit where credit is not due and fail to give God the glory, is it any wonder that His presence is not real in your life? (See Isaiah 42:8.)

4. Is There Defiance in My Heart?

“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!’” (Exodus 32:9). God was leading them, but they were like a horse who rears up and will not yield.

If God speaks to you about what He wants you to do, obey Him.


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