There is Power in the Presence

These nine verses hold so much meaning. Since the first time I found these passages I have been reminded of Moses, hiding in the cleft of the rock as God passed by. He hid his face, put a veil over his head because of the blinding glow. 

What power in the Presence! And to think, Elijah might be standing in the exact same spot as Moses. The cave he slept in is speculated to be the spot Moses took shelter from the brilliance of His passing God.

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

When I study these two verses I am reminded that, while I expect God to be the reason the major events in my life transpired, I don't often recognize He is everywhere, and involved in every part of my life. Perhaps He is even more present in the tiny moments, the insignificant events in our lives.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (v12b-13) 

The gentle whisper is like a little nudge to do something different. A quiet and subtle push from the Holy Spirit that says, "Go this way, take that road, wait for a minute before leaving the house." We've all experienced those moments that changed our lives. It is obvious God led us; took us by the hand, guiding, His still small voice prodding. What power in the Presence!

1 Kings 19:9-18

The Story - Chapter 5 - Exodus 32-33

Safely Tucked Away

There is so much covered in these two Chapters, let’s concentrate this morning on Chapter 33. One of my favorite and most comforting verses is found here. Early in my walk, as I was just beginning to understand the power and glory of God and how it impacts and comforts the hearts of His people, I was comforted and strengthened by these words.

Exodus 33:21-22 (NKJV)
And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.

At this point in history, Moses was heartbroken over the behavior of his people. They had rejected God who brought them out of their bondage. God wanted to leave them and Moses interceded, crying out to God. Moses could not imagine going forward without God leading.

For us to take a step onward without calling on God to go before us is foolish and dangerous. I remember a time when on a short-term mission trip to Honduras. Returning from dinner and heading back to the lodging supplied for us required walking an unfamiliar path. It was night and very dark and I foolishly forgot my flashlight. I remember feeling my way along the path, praying I would not trip and fall, knowing the trail was steep.

At one point, I saw a light in the distance and decided to wait until it got closer before taking another step. As soon as the person with the light neared, I could see my way and moved forward with confidence, trusting I would be ok now. It is this I remember every time I read how God sheltered Moses in His light, His Glory. This is a weak analogy, but serves its purpose for this believer.

I will never consider moving into the unknown without calling out to God to light the way. I know the darkness can be navigated safely with a source of light nearby.

Read Exodus 32-33 here

Listen to Exodus 32-33 here