The Need for God's Presence (Interpretation)
The Need for God's Presence (Interpretation)
a commentary on Exodus 33
Thank you, Lord, for this day. May it be used for your glory!
Good morning everyone and welcome back to this week’s Biblit Part 2!
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Yesterday we covered the context of what is going on in Exodus 33. If you missed that, make sure to get caught up:
Otherwise, let’s keep going into the interpretation of Exodus 33!
Interpretation
So, contextually, there are 2 main things that happened in this passage:
God told Israel He wasn’t going with them to the Promised Land
Moses pleaded with God to go with them to the Promised Land
As we read about Israel here, I think we see a few things that are remarkable about their character.
Especially in light of the previous passage with the golden calf.
All They Need Is God
Let’s look back at Israel’s character throughout Exodus for a second. Israel is really good at complaining, right? Now don’t judge them, we are all good at complaining.
But let’s highlight some of their complaints: they complained about having no food, they complained about having no water, they complained about being brought into the desert to die, they complained about enemies threatening them, they complained that Moses was on the mountain too long, and so forth.
A lot of times they ended their complaints with a big slap to the face to God, saying they’d rather still be in Egypt! As slaves!
What does Israel’s complaining have to do with anything in this passage, though?
Well, I just wanted to paint that picture in order to really highlight what happened in Exodus 33.
God gave into all their complaints in one swoop: they would get a land filled with milk and honey, they would be out of the desert, their bellies would be full, their enemies would be driven out, and they would be free to do whatever they wanted because God wouldn’t be with them at all.
And here is where we see Israel’s character. When God said He wasn’t going with them, they realized that their greatest need was not food, water, or shelter. Their greatest need was God!
They refused to leave, they refused to go into the Promised Land if they couldn’t go with God!
How amazing is that!?
Not only do we learn this from Israel’s reactions, but we learn even more in Moses’s conversation with God.
They Could do Nothing Without God
Remember how Moses asked God to enlighten him with God’s ways so that he could stay in God’s favor? Well, right before he asks that, he says this:
“Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.” (Exodus 33:12 CSB).
In Moses’s response, he admits to God that he is clueless without God’s direction. He can’t lead the people without God’s help.
He can’t do anything without God.
They Were Distinguished by their Relationship with God
As the conversation continues, Moses later says this to God:
““If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.” (Exodus 33:15-16 CSB).
Moses exclaims to God that if He doesn’t go with Israel, then they would be no different than the other nations.
Even though they would own the wealthiest, most fertile land in the area. Even though they would be able to produce wealth beyond imagination. None of that would distinguish them.
The only thing that distinguished Israel from other nations was their relationship with God.
If God didn’t go with Israel, then they would be left with nothing.
Alright, if you didn’t follow along until now, I’ll quickly sum up the main points I learned about Israel from this passage:
They got everything they asked for but realized all they really needed was God
They realized they couldn’t do anything unless God was with them
They realized the only thing that made them different from other nations was their relationship with God
Tune in tomorrow and we’ll talk about how we transition from Israel to us and apply these same points to our lives!