I had an idea for this devotional, but I struggled with how to share it in a way that seemed to the point and not all bogged down with details of my own experience. The truth of the matter is that we all have different stories and our particular details vary, but the word of God does not change and penetrates each of our circumstances in His unique, loving way.
Two weeks ago I had surgery. It was a day surgery, laparoscopy, in and out of the hospital in what turned out to be 7 to 8 hours. I knew it was fairly routine, but I still felt apprehensive. This decision had been a year and a half in the making and I had had an emotional roller coaster ride getting to it.
At times we have dreams that are not fulfilled in the way we had hoped and circumstances in our lives can serve to remind us of these disappointments and cause us to come again before God on our knees. This was one of those circumstances for me. God graciously gave me time to work through these emotions with Him and I am thankful.
The night before the surgery I read the “Jesus Calling” devotional by Sarah Young for the following day and it led me to these verses in Exodus 33. God is talking to Moses after the people sinned against Him by getting impatient and creating a golden calf to worship instead of Him. Moses is pleading for God’s presence; that He will not send His people on without Him. God answers Moses in verse 14 - And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (NKJV)
I like how the Amplified Bible words verses 15 and 16 - And Moses said to the Lord, if your presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?
Verse 17 - So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” (NKJV)
Through Jesus, I am forgiven and have found grace in the Father’s sight. I do not understand all the ways of my life, why everything turns out the way it does and sometimes life can be downright scary. Yet that night I found great comfort in the truth that my Father knows me by name and His Presence goes with me as I seek His way. I want His Presence to have a distinguishing role in my life.
Mark and I watched the movie Avatar for the second time this last week. In the film, the native people have an expression that indicates intimacy between two people, a connectedness, an understanding. They say, “I see you.” I know my God sees me. And by His grace, I see Him. Thank you Lord.
Exodus 33:14 (NKJV) And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:15-16 (AMP) And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?
Exodus 33:17 (NKJV) So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”