Promise over Presence

While doing my QT, I stumbled upon a fascinating verse that touched my soul. Deeply.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”- Exodus 33:1-4

This happened after the Israelites sinned against God when they worshipped the golden calf instead of the One true God. Even after they offended Him, He still intended to give them the Promised land and He also promised them protection through His Angel.

Propitious, isn't it?

BUT, this line got me "for I will not go up in your midst."

It makes me ask, "would I be willing to enjoy the promise and the protection without His presence?"

It's easy to say "no" but we do this so many times. How? being in a wrong relationship, staying at a workplace He doesn't want for us, doing things or hobbies we're not supposed to do and so on.

This gave light to a question I was eagerly looking for answers to as I see many people (including myself) do things the Lord explicitly said we shouldn't do. If He opposes what we're doing why does it seem He still allows it to prosper? Thus, we mistakenly think we are able to twist His hands into "blessing" our will even though it's contrary to His.

He still blesses us because He cares, He still protects us out of love but He won't be with us, thus, the void won't disappear.

Verse 4 says, When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

In a sense, they realized that the "blessing" is useless unless they have the presence of God. It is more important. In fact, it is the most important thing that anything this world can offer us.

How about us? When was the last time we chose God's presence over the things we desire like Promise and Protection? Or better yet, let's ask...

"How easy is it to be satisfied with our fleshly desires even at the expense of His presence and our fellowship with Him?"

My heart bleeds when I recall how leaving God's presence crossed my mind when I wanted something He didn't want for me. A wrong relationship over my relationship with my Loving Father. What breaks my heart is thinking how God must have felt when I almost traded the Promise Giver just to get the "Promise land".

Sometimes, we got to close the window that's hurting our relationship with God, no matter how beautiful the view seems.

Now let me ask you, what is it you're holding that He wants you to let go? The good starting point is knowing that Peace only comes in the light of His Presence. Now, answer this..

Do you honestly have peace?

Pray for Him to reveal to you areas of your life that don't correspond to His Word and pray for His grace to strengthen you to let go because...

A promise without His Presence isn't worth having. It will make you happy for a while but it won't last. It isn't worthwhile and will never be. -CS