He Has a Real Presence about Him

I have often heard it said of actor or athletes or other public personalities: "They have such a presence about them."  Typically the idea is that this person has a confidence or swagger or competence that makes them seem powerfully natural at what they do.  In Exodus 33, we also see the idea of presence, though here the term is used differently. 

In this chapter, Moses is overcoming a disaster.  While he has been up on Mount Sinai receiving the Law, the people of Israel have fallen into the most abominable sin- mixing immorality and idolatry all together.  To make matters worse, Moses' own brother Aaron, the spiritual leader of the people, was involved in this sin.  Moses acted swiftly upon his descent from the mount and his discovery of the sin.  Through the help of the Levites, 3,000 of the worst offenders are put to death.  In addition, God strikes the people with a plague assuring that more will die.

All this is devastating enough.  But then comes the biggest blow of all.  God says to Moses: "Move the people from this place."  That is something God has said many times.  But then He says something He hasn't said before: "You go.  But, I'm not going with you."  Because of the momentous nature of the sin, God is no longer accompanying the people on their journey.

Moses' response to this is swift.  Verses 15-16 make it clear that he does not want to undertake the journey alone.  In those verses, Moses says: "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?” (NIV)  Moses says it is Your presence, God, that makes us unique.

I think we need to remember that lesson today.  As a church, we ought to ask ourselves can people sense the presence of God when they come to our services and activities?  We could have great music.  We could have great sermons.  We could have great programs.  But none of that does us any good unless God is present with us.  Let's seek to cultivate an awareness of God's presence in all that we do.