God has told the Israelites, through Moses, that he has removed his presence because of their sin. It is much like a parent to a misbehaving kid who's told to "Go to your room," which, let's be honest, is sometimes as much a break for the parent as it is a punishment for the kid.

Moses intercedes on behalf of his people and asks God for his presence. The people repent and God makes a promise to Moses that his presence will resume and that he will give him rest.

We know that feeling: the lack of rest the Israelites were experiencing. When we are "misbehaving children," and turn toward sin instead of God, rest can elude us.

We lack peace. We are unsettled. And we tire quickly. Like the forgiving parent with a misbehaving child, God's presence brings us comfort and rest. Forgiveness draws us closer to him because the barrier between us is removed.

We often hesitate to look to God while we are misbehaving. We hide, we dodge, we turn away and we wear ourselves out. We choose the opposite of rest and restoration. Yet God's message to Moses—and to us—is clear. In his presence we find rest and in his forgiveness, we find restoration.

Application

Ask God if there is anything in your life (sin?) that is keeping you from fully experiencing his presence. The asking step is easy. The next step can be tough, but as he brings something to mind, take a moment to repent. Ask for God's forgiveness and the wisdom to move forward in victory. In it, you will find restoration.

Go Deeper Resources

• One of the gifts of Scripture is that it gives us the words to pray when we are unsure, unable, or unprepared to connect and confess to God. Over the next five days, pray these Scriptures as a means of confession and repentance:
  • Psalm 139:23–24
  • Psalm 51:1
  • 1 John 1:5–9
  • Proverbs 28:13
  • James 5:16
• Understand and explore what it means to receive God’s presence in your daily life by reading the Christian classic, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.