- Shemot / Exodus 33:12-34:26
- BaMidbar / Numbers 28:19-25
- Yechezekiel / Ezekiel 36:37-37:14
- Korintim Aleph / 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Shemot {33:14} He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” {33:15} He said to him, “If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here. {33:16} For how would people know that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it in that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?”
Moshe (Moses) knew the affect of the presence of G-d on the lives of bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel). Without G-d’s presence they would be like all the other nations on the earth. Moshe had experienced what it was like to live amongst other nations where there wasn’t the presence of G-d. Moshe lived in both Mitzrayim (Egypt) and Midian, so he knew, first hand, what idolatrous nations were all about. Now, after having his burning bush experience on the mountain top, he did not want to ever have to go back to not having G-d’s presence with him.
It is not hard for me to imagine that Moshe was so committed to HaShem and so passionate about the relationship he had with Him that he was not willing to go anywhere if the presence of G-d did not go with him. Remember the reason he gave for G-d’s presence going with bnei Yisrael? “… so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth.”
Moshe knew that the presence of G-d in a person’s life made them different. So different, in fact, that it would make them unlike any other nation on the face of the earth.
So, what does it mean to be in the presence of G-d? When we are in the presence of G-d He becomes our passion our point of focus. There is power in the presence of G-d. Bnei Yisrael did not have to fear any other nation because, as long as G-d’s presence was with them, no one could defeat them. There is no fear in the presence of G-d. There’s repentance in the presence of G-d. There is forgiveness in the presence of G-d. There is character change in the presence of G-d. There is truth, guidance, instruction, prophetic revelation, comfort and peace in the presence of G-d. Is it any wonder, therefore, that Moshe did not want to be without the presence of G-d. Would you?
This Shabbat we celebrate the first intermediate day of Pesach (Passover). For us Pesach is all about the death and resurrection of Yeshua HaMashiach. Every element of the Pesach ceremony, in some way, depicts what our Mashiach did for us. Why did Mashiach have to come to earth and die? He had to come and die so that we might be saved, but also for this reason:
Yochanan (John) {16:7} Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.
Yochanan {14:26} But the Comforter, which is the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. {14:27} Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Prior to Yeshua HaMashiach, G-d in the flesh coming to earth as a man in human form, bnei Yisrael was without a prophet, without, in fact, the presence of G-d; His presence departed from the Bet HaMikdash (Temple) as described to us by the navi (prophet) Yechezkel (Ezekiel) in chapters 10 and 11 of his book. Finally, after more than four hundred years Mashiach had come and bnei Yisrael was once again in the presence of G-d. However, Yeshua was about to depart. He needed to take up His place in heaven so as to accomplish an important part in our and the world’s redemptive process, but this time HaShem would not leave us without His presence. He would send the Ruach HaKodesh to be with us.
Yochanan {14:16} “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; {14:17} that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.
Every believer in Yeshua HaMashiach has the presence of G-d living inside of them, “… so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth.”
Can you truly say that you are living a separated life?
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