Tuesday 6th August 2019 Prayer Devotion
Scripture Reading:- Exodus 33:12-33
Topic:- God Manifesting Himself To Moses [2]
Text:- Exodus 33:18
Now mark the gracious answer. Moses asks again, “Who shall go! The Lord replies, If you want to know who shall go with you, let this suffice you, I will go with you myself.”
How full of consolation to Moses, to be assured of Jehovah’s glorious presence! How sweet the promise, “I will give thee rest.”
Now listen to the beautiful answer of Moses, in which we have another exhibition of his great simplicity of character. He is so deeply sensible of his own deficiencies, that he knows and feels that he cannot go without God. He thus acknowledges most fully his entire dependence on God, and his perfect despair of success unless God be with him.
What can be more striking than these developments of character, both on the part of Moses and of God! On the part of Moses, you see the most perfect simplicity and dependence; on the part of God, the most astonishing goodness and condescension.
But let us examine the course pursued by Moses yet more attentively. When God had given him the promise “My presence shall go with thee,” why did he not drop the subject at once? Why go on to argue and urge the case yet further?
The answer is to be found in his intensely anxious state of mind. He could not endure to think of going on without God. Without God’s presence.
Now plainly Moses had looked thoroughly through this subject. He did not say this without reflection. It was no hasty remark; nor was it made without good reason. Indeed, Moses was in an eminently collected and rational state of mind. He saw how infinitely necessary it was, for the good of Israel, and for the honor of Jehovah, that this nation should stand out before all the nations of the earth as a distinct people. Hence he urges before the Lord.
How can this be manifest unless thou be with us? Can any thing else make it manifest? Can my saying so do it? No; God himself must be with us, sustaining us amid all our trials, guiding us in all our ways, delivering us from all our foes, else we shall not be known as the people of God, and God himself can get no honor from our bearing his name.
How perfectly reasonable are these views of the case, and the state of Moses’ mind resulting from these views!
We come now to the answer of God. “And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” The Lord seems to feel the full force of every word that Moses says. Indeed, no being in the world is so easily influenced by considerations of real importance as God is. I have always found that if I had good reasons to urge in prayer before God, I could certainly prevail with Him, for He is always reasonable.
It is wonderful to see how the Lord suffers Himself to be carried by the least reason, presented even by a child. Yes, He seems to say, I know very well that your reasoning is all good, and I will surely act accordingly. So with Moses. God heard, and then did for him all that he could ask.
At this stage of the interview Moses ventured upon yet another great request. He had been drawing nearer and yet nearer to God during this whole conversation. How often in reading this narration have I seemed to be by his side, and to see God taking an attitude all along to encourage Moses to draw yet nearer and nearer. God promises to give him his gracious presence. He meets every request with his smiles and his assent.
Prayer Point:- Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Happy 2019 T.A.C.N. LAWNA International Tuesday Convention! www.timogundelejesu.com
