By Authrine Dryden
The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ 2 And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”
4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. 5 For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” 6 So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.
Exodus 33:1-6 (NLT)
“Now go and tidy your room. Put all the toys back in the box where they belong”, commanded Mum to her son who was intent on playing on his PS5, oblivious to the instructions given. As Mum continued busily moving from room to room, she noticed no movements from her son’s room. “Have you started the tidying up yet?” Mum bellowed from the bottom of the stairs. There was still no response. “No Mum please don’t!” her son shrieked as his Mum proceeded to relieve him of his game. “You cannot continue to play until after you tidy up your room” stated Mum.
How many times have we been given instructions and have just completely ignored them and did our own thing? Here we have the predicament with the Israelites and the Lord. They are on their way to the promise land. They could not have asked for a better life and such privilege. They were the envy of all their enemies. They had Moses, their leader and mediator. They had the Lord on their side – His presence. What could possibly go wrong? Alas! the Lord will not travel with them. “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewellery and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.”
The people were distraught and humbled themselves to what the lord commanded. They did not want to be outside of his presence.
The Israelites had to understand how their disobedience had negatively affected them. The presence of the Lord was at stake. Disobedience creates a barrier between us and God. The Lord cannot be with us in our sins and must separate himself Isa 59:2. When we miss the mark, we need to acknowledge this and seek to rebuild our relationship with him. Let us now seek to draw closer to the Lord for more intimacy and seek to remain in his presence.
Ask – How did the children of Israel react to the Lord’s refusal to travel with them?
Seek – Does this passage provoke your need for more intimacy with Jesus?
Knock – Now let us commit afresh to hiding his word in our hearts so his presence can abide within us.
(Upper Photo by Taven Hash on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash)
