Those are the words of the Lord given to Moses in Exodus 33. “Get going…go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses had his marching orders but he struggled with one question, “who will go with me?” That’s understandable. Nobody wants to go alone. I don’t think Moses was ready for the answer.
Exodus 33:14-16
14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest everything will be fine for you.”
15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me and on your people if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
Did you catch that? Moses was looking for a companion and the Lord said, “I will go with you.” I love Moses’ reply, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.” Translation: I don’t want to go if you aren’t going with me. This has become my prayer for the last few days since I read this passage. ”God, don’t let me go unless you go with me.”
Not only does Moses realize that it is futile to move without the Lord but he also acknowledges that it is the presence of the Lord that sets the Israelites apart from all other people on the earth. This is convicting for me. As a Pastor/Leader I like to tell myself that good music, lighting, video, and creativity is what will set us apart. But it’s not. It is God’s presence. At least that is what it should be.
So it’s time to get going. Literally, I’ve got to get back to work. BUT…in all seriousness, what would happen if a group of believers began to desire God’s presence more than anything else. What if we stubbornly said, “WE won’t GO unless YOU GO with US!”
It’s worth chewing on.