Exodus 33

It is more important to feel the presence of Jesus than experience His promises. No matter where you find yourself, if you do not feel the presence of God and have an active relationship with Him, then what's the point?

Sydney: https://www.instagram.com/syd.funkhouser

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Hey guys, welcome to the Christians on College Campuses podcast. My name is Sydney Funkhauser from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. And today we're going to be taking a look at Exodus chapter 33. So a little bit of background information. The previous chapter is when the Israelites worshiped the golden calf and Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving God's commandments. So the big thing about that is their disobedience caused their relationship with God to be broken. And then in Exodus 33, it shows us that both the consequences of sin and God's incredible mercy. So let's just start it right up at uh verses one through six. Then the Lord said to Moses, Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants. I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittitudes, Perizites, Hivatites, and Jebusites, not sure if I said those right, um, go up to the land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go with you, because you are stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way. When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn, and no one put on any ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, Tell the Israelites, you are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you, even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do with you. So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb. So these verses are a little bit difficult because God is basically telling the Israelites that he will still fulfill his promise to bring them to the promised land, but he is not going to go with them because they're stubborn. Um the people immediately realize that something's important and that God's presence is more valuable than God's blessings. Um kind of relating to us, I think it's easy to focus on what God can physically give us, like success or opportunities or answers to prayers. But these verses remind us that having God Himself is far more important than anything that he actually provides for us. Um it says that the Israelites mourn um because they understand that life without God's presence isn't really what they want. Um, I'm gonna skip a couple verses and I'm gonna go to 12 through 17. Um, I think this is one of my favorite conversations between Moses and God. Um, but yeah, let's get into it. Moses said to the Lord, You have been telling me, lead these people, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, I know you by name, and you have found favor with me. If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways, so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people. The Lord replied, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Then Moses said to him, If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth? And the Lord said to Moses, I will do the very thing you have asked, but I am pleased with you and I know you by name. So obviously that's a pretty popular verse, that last one, um, verse seventeen. Um but basically Moses doesn't really ask for an easier journey or more resources. Instead, he asks if in verse 15, if your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. So Moses understood that God's presence was the difference between simply just traveling and truly living according to God's plan. Um, I do think that's a big challenge for us today. I think we often ask God to bless our plans. Um, but Moses shows us that there's something greater and that he wanted something greater because he wanted to be wherever God was leading. Um to apply this to us, I think instead of asking God to follow our plans, maybe we should ask God to help us follow his. Food for thought. Um, yeah. And then uh God responds by saying, My presence will go with you and I will give you rest. That promise still reminds us of God's faithfulness. Even when life feels uncertain, we can trust that God is with his people. Um, now let's read verses 18 through 23, and I think this is going to be the last section that I read. Then Moses said, Now show me your glory. And the Lord said, I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But he said, You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. Then the Lord said, There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back, but my face not must not be seen. After everything that Moses had experienced, he still asked God, Hey, show me your glory. I think I really like Moses because he wanted more of God. He kind of wasn't really satisfied with what he had already experienced, which I think that's true to a lot of us today. Um, but in response, God tells Moses that no one can see his full glory and live. But he also allows Moses to see a glimpse of his goodness as he passes by. Um, this really reminds us that God is both holy, but he's also super personal. Um his glory isn't necessarily beyond our understanding, but he still desires a relationship with all of us back then and now. Um, throughout this passage, we definitely see God making himself known, and ultimately we see his character most clearly through Jesus. Um in 33, the main things that uh really stand out to me is first, God's presence is greater than God's gifts. So if you're gonna take things away, I would take these three things. God's presence is greater than God's gifts. Um, second, prayer isn't really just about asking God to bless our plans, but it's asking and seeking um his direction. And then finally, we should never stop desiring to know God more deeply. Moses literally witnessed incredible miracles, yet he still wanted to experience more of God's glory. Um, and there's always more that we can learn, and there's always more that we can lean into. Um, yeah. So thanks for listening to this episode of Christians on College Campuses podcast. Um, I really hope that Exodus 33 encourages you to seek God's presence above everything else and to trust that he will faithfully walk with those who follow him, like he does with all of us. Um, let's go ahead and close in prayer. Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy even when we fall short. Thank you that you don't abandon your people and that your presence is the greatest gift that you could ever give us. Help us seek to know more than the things that you can provide. Teachers to trust your direction to desire your glory and to walk closely with you each and every single day. May our lives reflect your goodness and point others to you. We love you and we thank you for always being faithful. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.