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The Greatness of God: The Greatness of God's Presence
In Exodus Chapter 32, despite of God’s faithfulness in delivering Israel from slavery under the Egyptians, the people were quick to turn away from God. In Chapter 33, after God had disciplined the people, in contrast to the people’s sin, Moses continues to obey and enjoy God’s presence. This can be seen in the Tent of the Meeting. Whenever Moses wanted to meet with God he would go out of the area where all the people lived and go to the tent. And God’s presence would come down, and that was when God and Moses got to talk to each other like friends (Exod 33:11). Later in verse 34 we find that Moses’ face was shining so much when he left the tent that he had to put on a veil because he had been in the presence of God that he had to put a veil over it.
What a marvellous picture of what God wants for His people. What a picture of what God wants more than anything else, is for us to be in His presence and to stand face to face and talk to Him as a friend. This is the God of the universe and Moses speaks to Him as a friend (John 15:24).
Our relationship with Jesus starts on the inside of us. It starts with an admission of sin, a belief in Christ’s death on the cross, and a commitment of our lives to Him. It starts on the inside and then God renews our minds, He renews our hearts, and out of that comes our faithful obedience to Him. Moses in verse 13 was asking God to teach him His ways so that he could know Him more. From verse 12 onwards, Moses was talking to God and seeking for His presence to go with him and His people, even though God had already promised to send an angel (v2). What was most important to Moses, what would separate out the people of God from all other people was not something external, it was something internal. It was the very presence of God. And Moses understood that that was key to who they were as His people.
REFLECTION
• Moses desired God’s presence. Do you desire the same? If so, how can you continue to have the Lord’s presence in your life?
In Exodus Chapter 32, despite of God’s faithfulness in delivering Israel from slavery under the Egyptians, the people were quick to turn away from God. In Chapter 33, after God had disciplined the people, in contrast to the people’s sin, Moses continues to obey and enjoy God’s presence. This can be seen in the Tent of the Meeting. Whenever Moses wanted to meet with God he would go out of the area where all the people lived and go to the tent. And God’s presence would come down, and that was when God and Moses got to talk to each other like friends (Exod 33:11). Later in verse 34 we find that Moses’ face was shining so much when he left the tent that he had to put on a veil because he had been in the presence of God that he had to put a veil over it.
What a marvellous picture of what God wants for His people. What a picture of what God wants more than anything else, is for us to be in His presence and to stand face to face and talk to Him as a friend. This is the God of the universe and Moses speaks to Him as a friend (John 15:24).
Our relationship with Jesus starts on the inside of us. It starts with an admission of sin, a belief in Christ’s death on the cross, and a commitment of our lives to Him. It starts on the inside and then God renews our minds, He renews our hearts, and out of that comes our faithful obedience to Him. Moses in verse 13 was asking God to teach him His ways so that he could know Him more. From verse 12 onwards, Moses was talking to God and seeking for His presence to go with him and His people, even though God had already promised to send an angel (v2). What was most important to Moses, what would separate out the people of God from all other people was not something external, it was something internal. It was the very presence of God. And Moses understood that that was key to who they were as His people.
REFLECTION
• Moses desired God’s presence. Do you desire the same? If so, how can you continue to have the Lord’s presence in your life?
Scripture
About this Plan
The God in the Bible is an awesome and powerful God that reveals Himself to mankind in His ways that directs man into a life in Him, knowing and experiencing His greatness in power, wisdom, presence, holiness, love and so much more! This first part of the 3-part series devotion on The Bible-revealed Greatness of God and His Plan discusses the five aspects of God’s greatness. May the God of the Bible blesses and reveals Himself to you and minister to you in a personal way through this devotion.
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We would like to thank Hope Singapore for this plan. For more information, please visit: http://www.hopesingapore.org.sg/
