proximity message

Exodus 33:7–11 ESV

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Day 1- What is happening

There is a tradition of worship that is already formed amongst the people. Moses would go to the tent, the pillar of cloud would come. That cloud represented/carried the presence of God. Throughout the Isrealites journey, this cloud would would appear when God himself would come and speak with, or instruct Moses. This same cloud appeared and led the Israelites by day, through the wilderness. Whenever the cloud appeared, the presence of God also appeared. The people had a rote response. When Moses went, they stood at their tent, and when they saw the cloud they would then bow down in Worship. They experrienced from a distance, what Moses experienced in real time

Proximity- Speaks of sharing space with someone, it’s a measure of distance, location and accessibilty.( A physical closeness)

Presence- It is a measure of attention, awareness and intent. (Presence equals an intimate closeness)

Proximity does not guarantee presence

We cannot exchange proximity for presence

paint the picture of vs 7

1.) they were in God’s vicinity, but they were not in His presence.

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2.) their Worship was from far off. It was a response to what they saw taking place, yet they were not in the midst of his presence.

Markings of a presence dweller

1.) They desire God’s presence over his power(Heart over His hand)

Exodus 33: 1-3, 15

Verse 12- Picks up where the last conversation between Moses and God ended. Moses essentially is saying to God, I do not want anyting if your presence does not go with us.

God had stated in 33:2, I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go with you. Moses’ response in vs 15 is essentially, Your power, your deliverance, your hands and our comfort are not worth the price of your presence. If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us from here.

3.) Moses understood that the presence of the Lord was more important than the hand and the deliverance of the Lord/

A.) Moses understood the favor of the Lord is his presence amongst HIs people- vs 16

2.) Presence dwellers desire to know and be known by God.

Exodus 33:18

Jeremiah 9:23-24

sometimes our pre conceived notions of God can lead us to stay at arm’s length. (My own story of thinking of God as a tyrannical ruler) or sometimes we’re so full of shame that we don’t want Him to look at us, or we’re afraid if we get to close he’s going to ask us to get rid of those things that have been emotional crutches, the things we’ve relied on in dark moments.

Matthew 11:28

Matthew 7:21-23

3.) The confidence of the presence dwellerr(grandaddy)

Matthew 26:40-46

Psalms 23,

David expresses:

1- The Lord as his deliverer

2- The Lord as his place of refuge(his protection)

3-His confidence in the Lord’s ability to deliver him

David’s focus is not on his enemies, on their pursuit of them. He is not asking or begging for deliverance from them or anything else, his only request is this:

that he could remain in the presence of Yahweh forever. David already knew God would deliver him from his enemies. HIs sole desire inthis moment, was just more of God’s presence.

David- Psalms 23