The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 NIV
One of the joys of grandparenting is introducing some of your food favorites. For breakfast we add peanut butter to our pancakes and waffles. The twist is putting the peanut butter in a cup and premixing it with the syrup to make a smooth peanut buttery sauce that spreads easily over the pancakes. All three of the older grandchildren kept asking me to make some more. Some food items go together very well.
God told Moses that His presence and rest should be experienced together. Neither His presence, nor rest are predicated on a calm environment. It is easy for us to think that God is near when we are happy, or in a worship event. Yet, in the middle of trouble, we wonder why He is silent and seems to have moved far away.
The Hebrew word “presence” is “panai” a root word for “face”, and is used for many applications. This specific expression means to be standing in the presence of another person. You are close to someone when you can see the details of the face. God said He would remain with Moses and the children of Israel close enough to them, so that they would know His pleasure and disappointments. He dwelt continuously with them in the tabernacle which was located in the center of the tribes, which is a foreshadow of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the center of our being.
The Hebrew word “rests” is “nuach” and it means in this application “to bring to a resting place”. The promise land of Canaan was the end of this journey through the wilderness. God’s promise was to be with them through all of the trials and they would enter the land and find rest.
May you be blessed today with a tangible acknowledgement of God’s presence. If you have to repent, acknowledge some form of disobedience, or return humbly back to His direction, then do it without delay. God will come to you with His presence and with His rest found in Jesus. They go together. If you are anxious and worried, seek His presence. Rest for your worried soul will accompany the reconnection of the closeness of your relationship.
Moses was asking for God’s presence to remain with them, but God is the one who said His presence and rest will come together. Receive the benefits of God’s spoken promises that He gives to His children. Rest and His presence mix very well together.
Jesus said, “come unto me (connect with His presence) and I will give you rest.” May you experience a deep sense of rest over your life and emotions today.
Blessings Love y’all
I’m so thankful for the rest to be found in His presence!
God is faithful to meet us in our place of need.