“And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”
What blessings do you desire from God today?
Moses had every reason to be discouraged.
Israel had just worshiped the golden calf. The covenant had been broken almost as soon as it was given. God had spoken of sending His people on to the Promised Land, but not of going with them Himself.
For Moses, that was the key detail.
When the Lord promises,
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,”
Moses responds with remarkable honesty:
“If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”
Think about what he is saying.
The Promised Land was everything Israel had been waiting for. It was a land flowing with milk and honey and the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. It was a home. Yet Moses understands that even the greatest earthly blessings are empty without God.
Better the wilderness with God’s presence than the Promised Land without Him.
That is a lesson we all need to learn.
It’s easy to focus our prayers on what we want God to give us.
Those are good things to pray for, but have you ever stopped to ask whether you desire God Himself as much as the gifts He gives?
Sometimes we can become so focused on God’s blessings that we forget the greatest blessing is knowing Him.
Moses knew that the real treasure was not Canaan.
It was the Lord.
That truth reaches its fullest expression in Jesus.
When the Son of God took on human flesh, He became Immanuel:
“God with us.”
God did not merely send help from heaven. He came Himself. Through Christ, God walks with His people, bears their burdens, forgives their sins, and promises never to leave or forsake them.
And even now, Christ continues to be with His Church through His Word and Sacraments and His Spirit. His presence is not just a comforting idea. It is a reality.
There may be times when God leads you through difficult places. The road may not look like you expected. But if the Lord is with you, you have what matters most.
His presence is enough.
Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the promise that You are with Your people. Forgive me for the times I seek Your gifts more than I seek You. Help me treasure Your presence above every earthly blessing, and remind me that through Jesus You will never leave me or forsake me.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
