PUSH AHEAD, part two: go in God's Presence

Repeat after me: push ahead

The Jewish people—the Israelites, the children of the person Israel (aka Jacob—of the lineage Abraham, Isaac, Jacob)—are generational recipients of a divine covenant God made with their patriarch Abraham, and therefore are beneficiaries of a divine promise that requires a journey to fulfill that promise.

(The promise was made in a moment but it is received/realized in a process.)

(In a “moment” you received your acceptance into a program but it is a “process” to complete it. In a moment you received the job offer/internship offer but it takes a process to execute—you now have to work that job, carry out that internship.)

In the text, Jewish people/the Israelites/the Children of Israel are in their journey from bondage (in Egypt) to freedom, but not yet to their promised place of rest in/with God.

(Similarly, today, we of faith are in journey and look forward to our rest in God. Hebrews 4:9 (NKJV) There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.)

Exodus 33:1–15 NKJV

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” 4 And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you.’ ” 6 So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb. 7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. 12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

Commentary:

(Exodus 33:6 (NKJVSB): The ornaments were associated with the idolatrous worship of the golden calf (32:2, 3). Their removal was a mark of genuine repentance and renewal.)

(Ex 13:21–22 the Pillar of cloud was God’s presence.

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

)

Push ahead: in God's presence

(Pray)

In every life, every journey, every race, every adventure there are moments of transition.

From not in it to starting; from beginning to entering the half-way point; from progressing to entering the last mile.

Whatever stage you are--whether you are about to begin, entering the second half/at the midway point, in the final stretch--the transition (zone)--the crossover moment--is a critical period for your life.

It does not matter what the experience is.

The transition zone, the crossover moment is a critical period because it is often here that things stop or progress, are lost or won, grow or shrink, are affirmed or denied, are bought or sold, canceled or renewed.

I draw your attention to this critical period because it is often/sometimes the place God renewals Himself to you.

The enemy is often active, trying to wear your down along the way, even before you get started, such that when it is time to transition, you bail out, you don't show up, or you make some critical decision that is against your best interest.

It is true that momentum is a leader's best friend--

a visionary's best friend, a journeyman's/a journeywoman's best friend for momentum is the wind at your back that helps you to push forward with less effort--the more the momentum grows the less effort needed to do that same job (conversely, a decrease in momentum necessitates an increase in effort to do that same job).

So while momentum in your life may be a good thing, momentum is also something to be stewarded.

Think about riding a bike--you may pedal to get started; at some point the bike may continue without a similar need for you to pedal; however, many of us learned quickly (or maybe not quickly enough) that what is required of you is steering. You steward the momentum by steering, by channeling, by harnessing.

So this transition period is one of motion--movement in time, if nothing else.

The transition period is also the place of exchange, the place of renewal, the moment of clarification.

It's here that I exchange:

old habits with new habits;

old patterns of thought with new patterns of thought;

relationships that don't serve me well with relationships important for this new leg of my journey;

broken beliefs with critical confidences.

I exchange what's holding me back for what will propel me forward.

It's here that I renew

my commitments,

my convictions,

my strength,

restore my appetite (to proceed),

my covenant(s) (relationships).

It's here that there is clarification

of who I am,

of Who God is,

of who I am in Christ,

of purpose,

of potential,

of the promises that will be fulfilled,

of the nature of the journey--what this new/next leg will require of me and those with me, and who will be those against me.

The transition period is a place of exchange, renewal, and clarification.

PUSH AHEAD

Without question, where you are going next requires a push to get you fully into it.

Hannah, when she is trying to ride her bike, I try to teach her, that if she is going from (no movement) being stopped, she might have to give herself a push and then start pedaling.

When she is riding and comes to a bit of an incline, I tell her that she has to keep pushing those pedals to keep going up.

Coming down off of a hill, entering a straightaway--the momentum coming off of a decline will carry but only so far (the coasting slows)--when Hannah wants to continue her progress to the end, I tell her keep pedaling and push to the end for you are almost home. Push.

Today, whatever stage you are--whether you are about to begin, at the midway point and entering the second half, or in the final stretch--push (to get and keep going) forward.

Israelites knows a thing or two about taking a journey, making a transition, and pushing through, moving forward.

Today, I want to continue a conversation with you using part of the Children of Israel's life for our learning.

Say to your neighbor, PUSH AHEAD.

Push ahead in God's presence.

There are three lessons/messages in this passage that I believe God wants for us to know/for me to share with us.

I'll give you (the second) one today.

Moses

Moses, in our text, is the leader of the Israelite people from bondage to freedom. Leader--spiritual, tactical, practical, tangible--that was Moses.

Moses was priest, prophet, (physician's) assistant to the Chief Physician...councilor, guide, judge (...sometimes jury).

Moses, in our text, sat at the intersection of the people of God and God Himself.

the “people of God”

I should note, the Israelite people were the people of God because God chose them and called them His people. The Israelite people did not choose God.

God, in fact, is trying to get the Israelite people to choose Him out of all of the (false) gods they could choose to worship and obey...and the glimpse the text gives us is that the Israelite people are having difficulty choosing God back.

Though God just delivered them by mass exodus and, like a form of baptism from one life to a new life, through the Red Sea the Lord, God Almighty brought the Israelite people a mighty long way. A great deliverance.

So great, that peoples today, including my people(s), receive present hope in times of trouble (oppression, slavery, bondage), saying, "If God could delivery the Children of Israel from bondage in Egypt then surely God--who is no respecter of persons--can delivery me and my people(s)."

Yet, similar to the children of Israel, we--I'll speak for myself--I seem to quickly forget the great things God has done with me and I revert to sinful ways and/or the world's ways of living--simply, I depart God's ways to adopt other ways, sometimes even the ways of my oppressor.

The Israelite people were God's chosen people. The Israelite people did not choose God. God chose them and called them His people.

The same is true for you and me. We did not choose God. You did not chose God...no you didn't :)

I know it seems like coming to know God through Jesus Christ was your brilliant idea. But God called you and it is by the grace of God that you have responded (and are responding) favorably to His call.

John 6:44 NKJV

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 10:13–15 NKJV

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Moses wasn't born a leader. Moses was born in trouble.

All of us who feel like we are in trouble and/or are not enough, we should be encouraged by the life and story of Moses.

Let's start with the life of Moses: Life begins in the womb for Moses and before his birth Moses was targeted for destruction by the then Pharaoh of Egypt…who said to the Hebrew midwives:

Exodus 1:16 (NKJV) and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see [them] on the birthstools, if it [is] a son, then you shall kill him; but if it [is] a daughter, then she shall live.”

And Moses was born in trouble, no less in critical danger. Literally, there was a death sentence upon Moses' life.

Exodus 1:22 (NKJV) So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”

Moses’ family, his mother and sister, conspired to keep baby Moses alive. Placed him in an ark—a floating basket—and put baby Moses in the river, by the bank. Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river, found baby Moses in the water, took him and began the process of raising Moses as her own child. Moses’ name means “he who is drawn [from water].”

Even then, while Moses was in trouble, God had is eye and hand on Moses' life.

Some of you wonder how you got here: God's (favorable) hand upon you got you here.

There is nothing you have done to earn the place you have received. God's grace--unmerited favor--has been upon you since before you were born--before you were capable of right and wrong. Before you had any awareness that choosing God was an option, God had already chosen you.

Chat to your neighbor, saying, "I'm chosen."

"Don't hate me, I'm chosen. God did it. I didn't do it. I can't help it. I'm chosen. Talk to God about it. Don't talk to me about it."

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Moses had vision for a better future but Moses didn't have divine strategy.

Moses, in his own intellect, tried to set right what was wrong and his efforts backfired.

Moses killed a man. (Exodus chapter 2)

(Moses witnessed the oppression of his (Hebrew) people. Scripture says Moses say an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. When Moses thought no one was looking Moses killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. )

Moses’ efforts Backfired so much so that Moses ran off to the dessert hiding...created a whole new life for himself and hid...40 years.

But how many of you know that you can't hide from God? You might be able to hide from people.

David, asks that rhetorical question:

Psalm 139:7 (NKJV)

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

Apostle Paul speaks:

Romans 11:29 (NKJV) For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.

(...without repentance.)

God "found" Moses but in reality God helped Moses to find his real self and reconnect to his destiny.

And now...

Moses was ready to go God's way (...but with conditions).

How may of you know about conditions?

You say to God, "I'll follow you but I want… (fill in the blank)"

That was Moses. "God, I'll go but I'm not going to speak."

"God, I'll go but Whom shall I say sent me?"

And now we come to another place in scripture where Moses has a "condition."

God says:

Exodus 33:3 NKJV

3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

Moses' reply:

Exodus 33:7 NKJV

7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.

Moses, first, consecrates himself--set's himself apart--for God.

Moses, first, consecrates himself--set's himself apart--for God.

There are at least three ways to be consecrated--set apart--for God's work:

1) God sets you apart. (I Samuel 16; Acts 9)

1 Samuel 16:1 (NKJV) Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:11-13 (NKJV) 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this [is] the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Acts 9:10-16 (NKJV) 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord [said] to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for [one] called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 “And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting [his] hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

2) Someone responsible/accountable to God for you decides to set you apart. (I Samuel 1)

1 Samuel 1:11 (NKJV) Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

3) You consecrate yourself. (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NKJV) 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Moses, first, consecrates himself--set's himself apart--for God. Moses, second, clarifies what's about to go down.

Exodus 33:12–13 NKJV

12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

Moses , if you notice and read through his life, pays close attention to language--to speech, what is said and what it might mean.

Moses says, (a little too nonchalantly, if you ask me) "God, you give me instructions but you haven't told me who You will send to accompany me..."

Moses puts God's words back (on)to God. "Since, I pray, I have found grace in Your sight..."

Moses, works to leverage his personal relationship with God to receive more favorable conditions.

v 13 "...show me Your way..."

Let's talk about "show and tell" with God.

Telling me you are good and showing me you are good are two different things.

God, telling Moses the way to the physical land of Canaan--giving Moses directions--and God Himself showing Moses are two drastically different experiences.

"Show" is experiential whereas "tell" is intellectual/mental.

This why in STEM we have the lecture and the lab. The two reinforce each other.

Hint: when you have the choice between God showing you and God telling you, go with God "showing" you. When God goes with you, showing you the way, then you don't have to have all of the answers because the Answer is with you. "I Am."

(This is how Jesus was able to command, with such little back and forth commentary, "Follow Me.")

(The problem with some church environments today is that we want to tell people about Christ and not show people Christ. We want people to go to God but we don't make the time to take people to God. Let's be a "show and tell' congregation, BCAY.)

"...that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight."

Assurance and right relationship.

It's the story that gives us blessed assurance. We can't see God like the people in Jesus’ day saw Jesus. We have to rely on other metrics.

"...Remember, this nation is Your people...not my people."

Moses had a dynamic with the Israelite people that is so real.

(Moses tottered between referring to the nation as "my people" and God's people". When Moses felt empowered we would hear language, "Let my people go." When Moses felt threatened or weak then we would hear language, "God, these people that you have given me...")

Exodus 33:14–15 NKJV

14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

God confirms His presence for the journey and the end goal.

Moses confirms what condition Moses deems acceptable.

Moses, first, consecrates himself--set's himself apart--for God. Moses, second, clarifies what's about to go down. Moses, third, confirms what condition Moses deems acceptable.

But why? Moses raises a good point.

Exodus 33:16–17 NKJV

16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” 17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

(Public Confirmations and re-assurance. Moses recognizes that God is making a public statement through Moses' life and the people's life. More than once Moses seemingly reminds God of how all of this looks in the public eye.)

How to go in God's presence:

Make arrangements with God.

Exodus 33:14-15 (NKJV) 14 And He said, “My Presence will go [with you,] and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go [with us,] do not bring us up from here.

Help and companionship is not weakness, it's wisdom. (At times, I am amazed at the stuff we venture to do alone.)

Jesus understood this:

Luke 24:44-49 (NKJV) 44 Then He said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 “And you are witnesses of these things. 49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

(Understanding and practice are meant to go hand-in-hand)

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV) 4 And being assembled together with [them,] He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” [He said,] “you have heard from Me; 5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

John 16:7 (NKJV) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Make an invitation to God. “Welcome into this place”

Song:

Welcome into this place

Welcome into this broken vessel

You desire to abide

In the praises of Your people

So we lift our hands

And we lift our hearts

As we offer up this praise

Unto Your name

Acts 4:29-33 (NKJV) 29 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 “by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Check-in, keep open the lines of communication, pray without ceasing.

Pray in your test, writing, presentation, set, interview, graduation plans, internship plans, relationship plans, work plans, career plan, health and wellness plans...

John 14:25-26 (NKJV) 25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Set the atmosphere with prayer, adoration, praise

Acts 16:25 (NKJV) But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

…and with meditation:

Philippians 4:4–8 NKJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Family, let’s GO in God’s presence as we push ahead.