The Presence Of God

Footprints

The Poem

by Mary Stevenson

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was

walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the

sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he

noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one

belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When

the last scene of his life flashed before him, he

looked back at the footprints in the sand. He

noticed that many times along the path of his life

there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed

that it happened at the very lowest and saddest

times in his life. This really bothered him and he

questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that

once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all

the way. But I have noticed that during the most

troublesome times in my life, there is only one set

of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed

you most you would leave me." The Lord replied,

"My son, My precious child, I love you and I would

never leave you. During your times of trial and

suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it

was then that I Carried You."

As the time approached for Moses to take up the lead of the Israelites, he became concerned as to the identity of the companion God had promised him (32:34; 33:2). He believed that a mere angel was no substitute for the presence of God. Moses beseeched God not to send the people out without his "Presence" to lead them (v. 15). Moses knew that God’s presence was essential to Israel’s testimony before the world (v. 16). Without it they would be indistinguishable from the rest of the world. That was the response the Lord was waiting for; so he told Moses that it would be as he requested (v. 17).

I The presence of God gives rest in the journey

{14} The LORD replied,

"My Presence will go with you, and

I will give you rest."

A This speaks to the presence of God on the journey

1 The rest that God will give the people of Israel

i Is based on the presence of God

ii Is based on the comfort of God for the journey

Illus Bike riding riding in a pelleton vs riding alone

iii God promises that He will be there with us

2 The road would be hard

i There would be battles that needed to be fought

ii God would be with them

a God had a plan to be with Hs people

b This plan had its foundation in God’s Covenants with His People

c God showed His grace in initiating covenants with the people of Israel

3 As Christians the New Testament talks about the Christian life as a walk

i The journey we travel at times be hard

ii Without Christ our life will be harder

iii Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28 NIV

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

a We can rest easy knowing that he travel the road with us

b We can be assured of His presence with us

B It also speaks to the promised land

1 The imagery here speaks of the end of the journey where God will give His people the land of Canaan

i They will no longer be prisoners,

ii They no longer will be sojourners in foreign lands.

iii They will be home.

2 As Christians we have a home

i Right now we are sojourners in this world

a We are citizens of God’s Kingdom

b We live in this world as ambassadors

ii One day we will be home

a We will no longer have to put up with sin

b We will no longer have to put up with

> Pain

> sickness

c We will have rest

iii In the mean time

II The presence of God gives us Grace for the journey

{16} How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and

with your people

unless you go with us?

A Moses wanted to know that God was pleased with Him and the people

1 Chapter 32:1 – 33:11

i We see the people of Israel fall into sin

ii We also see the results of that sin

a Idol worshiping

b Drunkenness

c Death over 3,000 people

2 Moses wants to know if God has restored His favour on Him and the people

3 Without this undeserved favour of God (grace) Moses could not and would not go on

i So God promises His presence for His people in the journey

ii This is equated with the grace of God

iii It was God’s grace that