In Exodus 33, Moses and the Israelites were in the middle of an eventful passage from Egypt to the land of Canaan, which God had promised to them. (That’s an extremely brief summary if there ever was one. If you aren’t familiar with this story, read all about it in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy!) Throughout the nation’s journey, God guided them from place to place. 

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. -Exodus 13:21-22

His presence was visible. Unmistakable, even! But in this instance in Exodus 33, the Israelites’ stubbornness must have been especially poignant. God told Moses where he was to lead the people next. He even said He would send an angel before them, driving out any enemy nations in their path. But in verse 3, God said He Himself would not go with the people for fear that He might destroy the Israelites along the way because of their stiff-necked actions.  

Moses, however, was intent on staying near/in the presence of God. As a leader, he did not want to lead this nation anywhere where God was not. While conversing with God about the Lord’s instructions for him to lead the people, Moses laid it all out there. We get to see this honest, vulnerable moment where he reminds God that these are His people, and God has promised to lead them. Moses said:

“You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” -Exodus 33:12-13

What a moment between Moses and God. Exodus 33 says the Lord spoke to Moses as one speaks to a friend! Wow. Moses experienced such intimacy with God that he felt comfortable telling Him anything. In this case, Moses literally reminded God of His promise to the people. He spoke God’s words back to Him, and he anchored himself (and his people) emphatically in the all-protective power of the Almighty. 

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” -Exodus 33:15

I just love this so much. Moses DID NOT want to be anywhere where God was not! He was making sure that he and the people were staying under the umbrella of God’s presence because he knew that anything else would be disastrous. 

Can you say the same thing? Life is obviously very different for us than it was for Moses. One incredible advantage we have is the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. God is always present. You don’t have to be a priest with permission to enter the Holy of Holies in the temple in order to get near to the Ark of the Covenant and stand in the presence of God. Through the Holy Spirit, we can feel God with us at all times. Even if we wanted to get away from Him, we technically couldn’t! 

However, we do make choices that create distance between us and God. Although He is omnipresent, sin creates separation. When we’re living in self-centered ways rather than God-centered ways, we move ourselves away from His will for our lives. Just like Moses doubled down to make sure he was keeping the people in close proximity to God, we can keep God close, too. By faithfully attending church, fellowshipping with other believers, studying God’s Truth in the Bible and communicating with Him in prayer, we draw near to God and actively tap into His presence. When we learn to depend on Him instead of ourselves, we enjoy a relationship that matures in intimacy through faith and trust.

The high school journalism classes I teach grow and thrive through my “teacher presence” in the room with my students. I structure the class in such a way that students are doing all of their newspaper article writing while they’re in the room with me. Consequently, whenever they have questions about how to organize their articles, how to word a certain sentence, or what information needs to be included in their articles, I’m right there to help. Additionally, I can keep a constant eye on their progress. As I move around the room keeping tabs on students’ work over their shoulders, I can point things out and make suggestions to help them out as they write. 

This “arrangement” honestly is a key to our successful publication of the school newspaper throughout the school year. It’s a true partnership between the students and me. They are baby journalists, and our combined efforts are truly what leads us to success. …so much so that when there comes a day every so often when I’m a little shorter on patience, we’re in trouble. (Thank goodness God never has days like that with us!) 

Or sometimes it’s not necessarily my lack of patience that threatens to stir the waters, it’s circumstances outside of our control. For example, on a January Friday earlier this year, our entire school was aware of the fact that school might get moved to a virtual setting on the following Monday because of forecasted low temperatures. So, I was preparing my students for what I’d be assigning on that day if our superintendent decided to cancel in-person school. While most students would be ready for the editing phase, which they can more easily embark on without me in the room, one sweet girl was a little behind because of unforeseen difficulties in interviewing one of her sources. I said to her, “Now that you’ve completed the interviews you need, if we end up having an asynchronous virtual school day on Monday, just see if you go ahead and finish writing your article so you’ll be back on track with our timeline.” And I will never forget the look on her face when she turned her head and looked at me with concerned eyebrows and wide eyes…

Without you?! I’ve never written an article without you here to help me if I need it!

This sweet girl wasn’t trying to get out of anything, I promise. She just couldn’t imagine trying to write the rough draft of her article without knowing that I was nearby to answer questions, offer advice and help her brainstorm when she got stuck. Of course, my ultimate goal is for the students to be able to operate on their own. In my introductory journalism courses, I’m taking them by the hand and slowly but surely building their skills and their confidence levels so that eventually, I can let go and watch them fly on their own. But as they work toward that level, my presence is key to their success. 

Thankfully, God isn’t trying to wean us off of Him. His presence is always fully available to us as believers. Just like my student was desperate to know I would be nearby as she wrote, and just like Moses was desperate to make sure he wasn’t leading the people away from God’s presence, I want to be desperate to remain close to Him always. What about you? Are you intentional about keeping yourself close to God as you go throughout your day? week? month? year? By keeping His presence close, you’re putting your focus on Him instead of you. You’re positioning yourself to lean on Him when the going gets tough. And you’re letting Him teach, guide, mature and empower you as you strive to live for Him. 

As you think about staying in God’s presence, maybe the words of Psalm 16 could help. Don’t skim over them! Read them out loud, and let this be your prayer for God’s presence.

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. -Psalm 15, emphasis added