Bible League: Living His Word "... If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here."— Exodus 33:15 NKJV The Lord made a promise to Moses. He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14). What does it mean? It means that the Lord would go with Moses and the people of Israel on their journey through life. In particular, it means that He would go with them when they left the wilderness and fought their way into the promised land, the place where they would ultimately find rest. He would not leave them nor forsake them. He would go with them and help them all along the way. The promise the Lord made to Moses is a promise that He makes to all of His people of every age. He promises to go with us on our individual and collective journeys through life. He has said, for example, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye" (Psalm 32:8). He has said, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10), and He has said many similar things in many other places in the Bible. So important was the presence of the Lord to Moses that, as our verse for today makes clear, he did not want to leave the wilderness without it. From his point of view, it's better to stay right where you are with the Lord's presence, even if it's in a harsh wilderness, than to move forward without it, even if it's into a lush promised land. After all, if the people of Israel had to move forward on their own they would not have God's help to take on all the enemies that occupied the land. The same goes for us. It's better to stay right where we are with the presence of the Lord than to move to a new place without it. Indeed, we shouldn't move anywhere on the journey of life without the Lord's guidance, showing the way, clearing the path, and helping us to make it safely. Our prayer then should always be, "Lord, I don't want to go anywhere without you." Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 107, 108 Psalm 107 -- BOOK 5: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his loving kindness endures forever. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 108 -- David's Psalm of Steadfastness (2Sa 23) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 15:21-33 Romans 15 -- We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak; Paul Plans to Visit Rome NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!”Insight This is one of the most powerful statements uttered by Jesus. When he said that he existed before Abraham was born, he undeniably proclaimed his divinity. Not only did Jesus say that he existed before Abraham, he also applied God's holy name to himself. This claim demands a response. It cannot be ignored. The Jewish leaders tried to stone Jesus for blasphemy because he claimed equality with God. But Jesus is God. Challenge How have you responded to Jesus, the Son of God? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 11:4 This sickness is not unto death.From our Lord's words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an "unto" within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the ultimatum of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord saith to the waves of pain, "Hitherto shall ye go, but no further." His fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of his people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat. 1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestinated, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of him who numbers the hairs of our head. 2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction comes not at haphazard--the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late. 3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." A mother's heart cries, "Spare my child;" but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that he who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 103:15,16 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. • When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Mark 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Isaiah 40:7,8 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. • The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. 1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 2 Corinthians 6:2 for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION "-- 1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. Hebrews 10:24,25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, • not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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