The Presence Of God Series

Do you have too many irons in the fire? The expression too many irons in the fire originated from the blacksmithing trade. If a blacksmith had multiple irons in the fire at once, it cooled the fire and none of the pieces of iron would get hot enough.

If the blacksmith had one iron in the fire it was glowing from being in the burning coals. The iron becomes so hot that if you even put it near a piece of paper it will ignite. That paper will burst into flames without even actually touching the hot iron.

Something like that happens for people who live in the presence of God. That hot iron just out of the burning coals is an illustration of someone who is fully immersed in the presence of God. They are spiritually red hot and ignite spiritual fire in others. Moses had one iron in the fire. He was fully in the presence of God.

There is something like the iron in the fire for anyone who lives in the presence of God. Their lives ignite others. There is power in the presence of God. Anyone can become the iron in the fire. Moody was preaching in many places and his critic asked him, does Moody have a monopoly on God? He replied, no, it is not like that. God has a monopoly on Moody.

This passage seems like a wonderful time of fellowship between Moses and God. But the context puts in perspective that this was not all good. The Israelites just made the golden calf and worshipped the image. They just thanked the golden calf for delivering them from slavery in Egypt. There was lewd activity during this time of idol worship. (Exodus 32:1-6)

The worst part for Moses was God was now going to withdraw His presence from His people. God was going to send an angel instead of His presence. This is a wonderful and blessed scene of scripture. Where sin abounds, grace abounds.

Moses makes three inquiries of God:

• Show me your way (Exodus 33:12-13)

• Give us your presence (Exodus 33:14-17)

• Show me your glory (Exodus 33:18-23)

Show me your way (Exodus 33:12-13). Moses is not asking for guidance in this request. He wants to know about the Lord himself. Moses presses for this based on the favor he has in God’s sight (Exodus 33:12).

You have recognized me as your servant Moses says. You have called me to be the leader of this people. Don’t leave me in uncertainty regarding your intensions. Moses is expressing faith. To know God’s way is to seek a deeper and more blessed knowledge of God himself.

It is not selfish for Moses to ask God for his favor in this sense. It seems to be the hardest thing for followers of Christ to seek God and truly know the way of God. Know the ways of God will mean spending time in prayer and in God’s Word. This does not come about by rigorous activity, but by quiet fellowship with God.

Setting aside time with God is not easy. We forget the most important thing. Who do you know who is making a genuine impact for God? It is the ones who have a quiet time and seek a relationship with God.

Moses relies on God’s promise with his oath to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his burning bush call. All who have put their faith in Christ have direct access to God. Not only may we seek God himself, but He also desires us to seek him. Don’t let anything get in your way of spending time with God to know His ways. God’s answer to Moses’ request came in verse 14. My presence with go with you.

Next request of Moses is; Give us your presence. After the great sin worshipping the golden calf God has withdrawn his presence. An angel will be with them now, not God. Without the presence of God, Israel and Moses are not only certain to fail in their mission set before them, but they also cannot even begin it.

What Israel had seen, what they had been given, what they had a chance of becoming, all were a direct result of the presence of God in their midst. The need to reverse the prospect of the absence of God was urgent. Moses focused his question, verse 16, on the very existence of a people.

Only God’s presence separates them from all other people. No people no matter how religious, can be a people of God, without the presence of God. What makes a believer separate from the worldly? Only God’s presence. What makes a believer in Christ separate? Only God’s presence.

There are moral societies with no alcohol, not drugs, no prostitution and they are faithful in ritual prayer. Without the presence of God, they are not a separate community. Only with the presence of God will we be a community of people with something special. It is not because of moral ethics, as good as those are, it is because of the presence of God.