Luke 9:33

Don’t you just love Peter? He is just so human and so impulsive! I can really relate here! Having just been privileged to eyewitnesses Moses, Elijah and Jesus in all of their glory, he is now ready to dig in and stay awhile! Who wouldn’t want to commune with the likes of these? What could possibly be more wonderful or peaceful or pleasant than to sit at their feet and to gaze upon their beauty? As David writes in Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalms 27:4 (NIV)
David longed to dwell in God’s house, to gaze upon His beauty and to seek Him in His temple. To dwell in God’s presence would add to David’s security – he would be safe and free from danger and ultimately filled with the “peace that passes understanding”. Peter partially realized this when he exclaims “Let us put up three shelters” – this situation was certainly too good to pass up! Like David, he could just take up residence there! No more having to deal with annoying “sheep”, no more being misunderstood, no more bodies wasting away - yes, indeed, Peter was getting into this idea! Like I said, I can relate to Peter. Moses, on the other hand, I find a bit more difficult to relate too! I am referring now to the incident recorded in Exodus 33. Moses had been interceding on behalf of the Israelites because of the golden calf incident and God’s ensuing righteous wrath against His people. God makes Moses an offer to give them everything He has promised – all of the Promised Land, annihilation of their enemies and the overflowing abundance of milk and honey, more than they could possibly consume. The only problem would be that He would not go with them: 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way." Ex 33:1-3 (NIV)
Moses’ response was a definite “No”! Let’s just think about this for a minute. What if God were to give us the same offer? What if He said to us “I am going to give you everything your heart desires only problem is I am not going to be with you” or “You know that list you have of things you cannot live without? I am going to give it to you – every single one on the list, but I am no longer going to walk with you”– would we take Him up on it? Can we do without His presence? Are His presence and our relationship with Him more important to us than what His hand bestows? It was to Moses. Moses’ response to God’s offer was as follows:
15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" Ex 33:15-16 (NIV)
When God’s presence goes with us – as we carry around His precious Holy Spirit on this side of the cross, we are distinguished from all other people on the face of the earth. Moses was willing to stay out in that wilderness with those complaining annoying people, continuing to eat manna, dusty, wearing the same clothes and shoes day after day and wandering in a circle as long as God’s presence was there rather than to have all that the world could possibly offer handed to him on a silver platter. Wow, now that is truly convicting! As I said before, I have a hard time relating to Moses here! Like Peter experienced firsthand and like Moses experienced in the wilderness, God’s presence is the sweetest place to be. Have we discovered this for ourselves? Nothing this world has to offer can compare. As the Psalmist states: 3 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalms 73:23-26 (NIV)
“He is my portion, no sorrow can dim the light of the Love found only in Him.” Anonymous16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Eph 3:16-19 (NIV)