Exodus 33 – God’s Presence With Us
Walking Through Exodus
Devotions - Week 13
In this week’s devotional we will be digging deeper into Exodus 33, and also Ephesians 2, to explore what the presence of God means for us and our life. You might want to use this guide in your personal time with God over the course of the week, or in your Life Group or household.
In Exodus 33 we see how Moses pleads for God’s presence to be with him and the Israelites, telling God he won’t go on to the Promised Land without him. God grants Moses with his presence, and in Jesus, we too can know the wonderful presence of God in our lives.
Have a think: There are signs pointing to Jesus all throughout Exodus 33. You could spend some time looking at the hints and signs pointing to Jesus in this passage.
Where Moses was able to meet with God in a tent, Jesus comes and ‘dwells’ with us (John 1:14), and the Greek word used here for ‘dwell’ also means ‘tabernacled’ or ‘pitched up a tent’. In Jesus, God came and pitched his tent and dwelt among us. Jesus then promised the Holy Spirit (John 7) so that all who put their faith in him can know God’s presence in them, through the Holy Spirit. So now, we are the tent where God’s presence dwells!
As Ephesians 2:13 and 19-22 say: ‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ… Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.’
Have a think: What are the various things we are promised here, in Jesus? You could make a list.
Through Christ and his sacrifice, we have been brought near to God and into his presence. We are no longer strangers to God, but welcomed into his house. And even more, we are being built as the dwelling place of God, as God lives in us by his Holy Spirit! See how Paul describes that we are being ‘built’ - there is a process of shaping, moulding and transformation. With the Holy Spirit in us, we are being shaped and transformed, and God’s presence is changing us.
Have a think:
Moses recognised how important God’s presence was for him and the Israelites, in marking them out as a people. We too are called to be set apart, with God’s presence in us making us different to those around us. And we are called to do this together as the Church, as Paul describes we are being built ‘together’ to house the presence of God.
Have a think:
Come and be in the wonderful presence of God, and be transformed as he dwells in you by his Spirit!
Pray:
In Exodus 33 we see how Moses pleads for God’s presence to be with him and the Israelites, telling God he won’t go on to the Promised Land without him. God grants Moses with his presence, and in Jesus, we too can know the wonderful presence of God in our lives.
Have a think: There are signs pointing to Jesus all throughout Exodus 33. You could spend some time looking at the hints and signs pointing to Jesus in this passage.
Where Moses was able to meet with God in a tent, Jesus comes and ‘dwells’ with us (John 1:14), and the Greek word used here for ‘dwell’ also means ‘tabernacled’ or ‘pitched up a tent’. In Jesus, God came and pitched his tent and dwelt among us. Jesus then promised the Holy Spirit (John 7) so that all who put their faith in him can know God’s presence in them, through the Holy Spirit. So now, we are the tent where God’s presence dwells!
As Ephesians 2:13 and 19-22 say: ‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ… Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.’
Have a think: What are the various things we are promised here, in Jesus? You could make a list.
Through Christ and his sacrifice, we have been brought near to God and into his presence. We are no longer strangers to God, but welcomed into his house. And even more, we are being built as the dwelling place of God, as God lives in us by his Holy Spirit! See how Paul describes that we are being ‘built’ - there is a process of shaping, moulding and transformation. With the Holy Spirit in us, we are being shaped and transformed, and God’s presence is changing us.
Have a think:
- What do you treasure about God’s presence in your life?
- In what ways have you been shaped and changed by God’s presence? How has the Holy Spirit changed you? Which fruits of the Spirit have you seen grow as you spend time in God’s presence? (You can see the list in Galatians 5:22).
- In what areas of your life do you recognise you need the Holy Spirit to change you more?
Moses recognised how important God’s presence was for him and the Israelites, in marking them out as a people. We too are called to be set apart, with God’s presence in us making us different to those around us. And we are called to do this together as the Church, as Paul describes we are being built ‘together’ to house the presence of God.
Have a think:
- Where will you go this week, where you can be noticeably different and bring God’s presence?
- Are you hungry for God’s presence, like Moses? Do you value it above all else?
Come and be in the wonderful presence of God, and be transformed as he dwells in you by his Spirit!
Pray:
- To be filled with the Holy Spirit and to know God’s presence with you
- For the presence of God to be with you in the various places you go this week
- For our Sunday meetings, church gatherings and life group meetings to be filled with the Holy Spirit and presence of God, as we are built together as his dwelling place.
This Everyday Devotion was written by Zoë Guy, part of the leadership team at our Southfields Venue.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on "Exodus 33 – God’s Presence With Us", why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Join us as we walk through the book of Exodus by following our daily Exodus Bible Reading Plan.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on "Exodus 33 – God’s Presence With Us", why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Join us as we walk through the book of Exodus by following our daily Exodus Bible Reading Plan.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.