HIS PRESENCE

His Presence

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Exodus 33:14

READ EXODUS 3:7–12

The anxious father and his teenage son sat before the psychic. “How far is your son traveling?” the psychic asked. “To the big city,” the man replied, “and he will be gone for a long time.” Handing the father a talisman (a kind of good-luck charm), he said, “This will protect him wherever he goes.”

I was that boy. However, that psychic and that talisman could do nothing for me. While in that city, I put my faith in Jesus. I threw away the talisman and clung to Christ. Having Jesus in my life guaranteed God’s presence.

Thirty years later, my father, now a believer, said to me as we rushed my brother to the hospital, “Let us first pray; the Spirit of God goes with you and will be with you all the way!” We had learned that God’s presence and power is our only security.

Moses learned a similar lesson. He had a challenging task from God—to lead the people out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land (Exodus 3:10). But God assured him, “I will be with you” (v. 12).

Our journey too is not without challenges, but we’re assured of God’s presence. As Jesus told His disciples, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

By Lawrence Darmani

REFLECT & PRAY

There’s no need to fear where you’re going when Jesus is going with you.

When the journey seems long and dreary, dear Lord, help me to remember that You are traveling with me.

Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day.

INSIGHT

For the enslaved Israelites, part of the reality of God’s presence was evidenced in His awareness of what they were suffering. In Exodus 3:7 we read, “The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.’ ” This should be encouraging to us as well. In our own seasons of struggle and pain, knowing that God is intimately aware of our suffering is the first step in trusting Him for the help and strength we need to endure. Not only does He see the struggle of His people, He moves to act on our behalf. In an ultimate sense, this is the same compassion that fueled the cross—He knows the depths of our brokenness and, in Christ, has provided a way of rescue. Bill Crowder