Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people. 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. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
We who believe in the Lord are content with His absence. We are like King Saul. If God’s power isn’t present, then we’ll simply do our duty, or what we feel best in the situation, and hope for God’s blessing. But with or without His blessing, we will act. We will “take the initiative.” We will “go unless He says stop.”
Now Jesus Himself never acted or spoke independently of the Father. He did not begin ministry until the Spirit filled, led, and empowered Him.
The apostles who had been with Jesus Himself for three years, the very ones he empowered to performed miracles, were commanded by him not to begin ministry at all until they had received power from the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Clearly Jesus felt it necessary to have the Spirit’s presence and power, and He thought it crucial for his apostles. How can we think we’ll be ok without the Spirit?
Moses didn’t think this.
Moses was not content with God’s absence, though Israel at the time seemed more than content. In fact, they tried to enter and take the Promised Land without God and ended up defeated and embarrassed.
Moses refused to go anywhere, Promised Land or anywhere else, without God’s presence. As far as Moses was concerned, God’s presence defined and distinguished him and God’s people.
Not the 10 commandments.
Not the ceremonial laws.
Not DNA from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Presence of God!
As far as Moses was concerned, there was NO WAY for anyone to know that God was pleased with him and the nation unless God was with them.
Not obedience to the 10 commandments, ceremonial laws, or the circumcision of Jewish men.
THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD!
This is what I want to distinguish me as a husband, father, officer, and minister. This is what I want to distinguish the church of the living and alive Jesus Christ! The Spirit descended for this very purpose. May He be known by all who encounter me and those who believe in the Lord!
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