Exo_33:15. The Importance of God’s Presence
"And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not hence."’97Exo_33:15.
It is impossible to contemplate the character of Moses, without astonishment and delight. The events of his history are most wonderful. His peril and deliverance when an infant. His preservation and adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter. The honors, riches, and learning, to which he was raised in his youth. And the wondered self-denial he evinced in renouncing all, from a pious principle of attachment to God and his people. Yet great, and learned, and intrepid as he was, the lowly spiritual graces of true religion were preeminent Consider his humility and selfabasement, his meekness, and patience; his fervency and prayer. Amid all his greatness, he relied entirely on God. The people had been worshipping the golden calf, which they had formed in his absence; God had visited them with his displeasure, and now threatens to withdraw his presence. See ver. 2, 3, &c. Moses interceded, ver. 9-13. God yields and promises his presence, ver. 14. Our text is the reply of Moses. "If thy," &c. Let us notice,
I. The Divine Presence referred to
II. Its essential Importance to God’s journeying Israel.
I. The Divine Presence referred to.
"Thy presence." That is, the presence of God. Now, in the holy oracles we arc often directed,
1. To God’s universal presence This is what is termed, the Omnipresence of God, on his being everywhere present. Hence, he exclaims, "Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord." This is quite an overwhelming view of the grandeur of God. There is no place where God is not. Hence, the psalmist exclaims, "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit," &c. Psa_139:7.
2. There is God’s glorious presence.
Now, this has been seen on earth, but is principally confined to heaven. God had exerted his creating attributes in the formation of our world. When he laid the foundations of the earth; when he had gathered the waters of the ocean together; when he had stretched out the heavens as a curtain; when he had placed the sun in his pavilion; when he had bestudded the firmament with stars; when he had finished the creation of our system, and pronounced it very good. Oh, then, indeed, was the divine glory developed beyond the power of our imaginations to comprehend. But his glorious presence is chiefly confined to heaven. Heaven is the region of glory There is his splendid palace’97his imperial residence. There he has his throne, and his ministers of state. There are the regions of joy, and the rivers of pleasure "In thy presence," &c. God is the light and joy. and glory of heaven.
3. There is God’s symbolical presence.
The chief symbols God has employed, are light and fire. "God is light," &c. Hence, he appeared to Moses in the bush. Also, he went before Israel in a pillar of cloud, &c. Hence, too, in the temple, the bright cloud of the presence of the Lord filled the house.
4. There is God’s judicial presence.
Hence, God speaks, and says, "I will come near to you to judgment." Mal_3:5. So, likewise it is asked, "Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?" Hence, too, at the confusion of tongues, "The Lord said, Let us go down, and there confound their language," &c. Gen_11:7.
5. There is God’s providential presence.
This has respect to the divine government’97to his upholding all things, preserving all things, &c. "In him we live," &c. He is good to all, &c. As the God of providence he clothes the fields, &c.; feeds the ravens, &c.; and supplies the wants of all his creatures. Now, this providence is most benignant towards his people.
6. There is the Lord’s gracious presence.
See Isa_57:15; Joh_14:23; 2Co_6:16. "I will dwell in them, and walk in them," &c. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," &c. Now, this gracious presence, and God’s benign providence, always work together. "The Lord loveth the righteous." "He keeps them in the hollow of his hand, and as the apple of his eye," &c. It is then the gracious presence of God which is so desirable. Let us then consider,
II. Its essential Importance to God’s journeying Israel.
There is a striking analogy in the condition of Israel, &c. In the desert, and that of the Christian in the world. Both redeemed’97both expectants of a goodly land’97both exposed to dangers; and both in a progressive state, journeying to the place, &c.
1. The presence of God is necessary to dispose us to seek after salvation.
In our natural state we hate the things of God, and live to ourselves; we should never seek after him, but go farther and farther from him, even to all eternity. God, therefore, must change our hearts’97he must take the stony heart away, &c. Then we shall love and delight in his ways, Eze_30:25.
2. His presence must direct and guide us on our journey.
"It is not in man to," &c. "We must commit our way," &c. "Thou shalt guide me," &c. Then, there is God’s engagement, Isa_42:6. Thus, he guided Israel, "and led them by a right way," &c.
3. His presence must sustain us on our course.
The new convert is a babe. What can he do? how can he walk? &c. Well, God must sustain; and he has said, "I will carry the lambs," &c. "Fear not, I am with thee." "I will strengthen. I will help, yea, I will uphold thee," &c.
4. His presence must supply our need. Man cannot supply his own. The wilderness of the world cannot yield it. None but God can do this. This, he has engaged to do. "The Lord God is a sun and shield." "The Lord is my shepherd," &c. "My God," &c. He sent Israel water from the rock, and manna from heaven. "They that fear the Lord shall not want," &c.
5. His presence must protect and deliver us.
The way is full of difficulties. Mountains, seas, &c., as it was literally to Israel’s. See Ps. cxiv.; Isa_41:14. Then, as to our foes, the Lord fights for his people. He is the captain of our salvation. "More than conquerors," &c.
6. His presence must yield us enjoyment on our way.
We cannot travel without this. Now God only can make us happy. He is our light and song. See psalmist’s account Psa_63:1-5. His presence makes our paradise.
7. His presence must bring our journey to a blessed consummation.
"He is the author and finisher," &c. He who hath begun, must complete. He who regenerated must be with us in death, and receive us to glory. Well, "when flesh and heart fail," &c.
Application
1. All things are of God.
2. Let us earnestly seek the divine presence. Never attempt any thing without it 3. Let us seek daily access to him by Christ.
4. Let sinners come by faith in Christ and be accepted of him.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS