Seeking God’s presence
Dan Harper
July 29, 2024
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Exodus 33: 12-17 (NRSVA)
12 Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said 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 favour in my sight.” 13 Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ 14 He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ 15 And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’
17 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name.’
There can be a delight to be found on going on holiday with friends, or maybe even your wider family. Although not everybody is a suitable travel companion and it’s important to recognise that.
I am fortunate enough that my wife, daughter, and I enjoy travelling with my two dearest friends. We’ve been to a number of countries and settings together, but there is one thing that makes it work. Our friendship allows us to be alone in each other’s company. We can comfortably sit and ignore each other to the point of being happily alone in each other’s company.
In our reading, God and Moses are having an important conversation in the tent. A conversation about the strength of love and the way the relationship works between God and Moses. And it is in this that God assures Moses that he will travel with him. And the people will know.
I can’t imagine that all the while the people wandered that Moses was performing signs and miracles form the divine to show that God was with them. I can only imagine that a comfortable silence and happily being alone in each other’s company was what it felt like to Moses in relationship with God.
When travelling with my dear friends this aloneness in company works well. But it only works with intentional holiday planning, and more importantly a spoken and unspoken love for and acceptance of each other for who we are.
As we travel with God, it is easy to think that time doesn’t need to be made to seek that conversation and relationship building with God, because God is always with us. But that is missing the point.
So, what now? Make a point of walking with God in silence, taking all of life to God. And then going into the world and making time to show spoken and unspoken love of God, in prayer, praise and practice.
Prayer:
God,
Gently bring me into your presence, give me comfort in the peace that is you.
Amen.
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