That Moses was an amazing man. One of the things he said that has remained a major part of my prayer life is that unusual statement he made to God shortly after his people had set up an idol for themselves and incurred God’s displeasure. It so happened that Moses did not share their disgrace, and while we are on that, may I say that each and every one of us needs to have the same fibre as Moses, the whole world may fall away from Jesus but i shall not. Everybody is doing it does not make a thing right. Aaron followed the people, Moses led them; will you follow your flaky friends or lead them. Chew on that!
Anyway, so Moses had God’s promise that an angel would go with them. And then later, as he hung out with God, He insisted on God telling him who would go with them, while pointing out that God Himself had said that he had found favour with Him. God answers him favourably, but Moses continues, and this is the thing that has featured in my prayer for many years. Moses says to God ‘If you will not go with us, don’t take us there’. End of story.
In other words, the company on the journey matters more than just reaching the destination. Remember, He was sending them to a good land, yes, that’s what the Bible calls it, a good land; a land flowing with milk and honey. The future was bright, but Moses decided that without God, it was not bright enough. Many of us, believers, would have actually felt more comfortable without God coming along to cramp our style. An angel, for instance would be quite ok; because what matters most to us is all that milk and all that honey.
For Moses, it was all that God that mattered. A journey without Him was no journey. All the milk and all the honey in the world could not tempt Him to go without God. In essence God must be the solitary star in our firmament and everything loses flavour and appeal in the absence of God. No wonder God spoke to that man as a man speaks to his friend. The same question arises for us today.
How much does God matter to us? How much do stuff matter to us? What are we willing to get even at the expense of the pleasure and the presence of God? Are we willing to turn our backs on milk and honey if the journey there will separate us from the Lord? The answer to those questions will determine how deeply we will know the Father and how much of Himself He will show to us. Moses takes the temerity even further, and says to God, ‘show me your glory’? And God did. So I take my cue from Moses and tell God I only go where you delight to go. Where your heart is not, mine will not be.
I pray that in our generation, Father God will find men and women who would rather forfeit stuff than forfeit God.
Shalom!