Exodus 33:12-23
GET THIS: In the wilderness or the promise land or anywhere in-between our only hope is the real presence of God and, In Christ, God is fully present with us.
Where Moses and God’s People Were and Where They Were Going (verses 12-13)
Read Exodus 33:12-13
Other Scriptures: Exodus 33:9-11
Moses’ Only Hope: The Presence of God (verses 14-16)
Read Exodus 33:14-16
The harsh environment, the strain on your body after hiking forty-two miles and 10,000+ feet in elevation gain and loss, and the wildness of the place make it particularly dangerous. And danger heightens your attentiveness. You pay close attention as you hike trails on massive cliff ledges. You concentrate so you don’t sit on a cactus. You keep a wary eye on the pink rattle-snake by the water resupply (true story—it was a giant snake!).
Holy detachment—not caring about what doesn’t matter—becomes necessary for survival. The desert teaches you to pay attention to the essentials (watchfulness) by intentionally ignoring a thousand minor things (indifference).
In seasons of comfort, you and I frequently care too much about the non-essentials. In this way, seasons of suffering can strip us of attachments, old survival tactics, and anything that keeps us from wholeheartedly loving God. Sadly, people will often choose short-term happy over long-term healthy. But God loves us too much to leave us with an unhealthy dependence on earthly things. So, he woos us into the desert to empty us of every entanglement that keeps us closed off to his loving care. He allows our hunger and thirst to grow so we ultimately choose the only nourishment that genuinely satisfies our souls. —-Rusty McKie
Other Scriptures: Matthew 11:28-30
The Promise of The Real Presence of God (verses 17-23)
Read Exodus 33:17-23
Other Scriptures: John 14:8-10; John 15:15; Romans 5:11
Take Time To Reflect
(1) Is your hope rooted in circumstances and situations or in the real presence of God?
(2) How can you foster a desperate desire for the presence of God?
GET THIS: In the wilderness or the promise land or anywhere in-between our only hope is the real presence of God and, In Christ, God is fully present with us.