The Lord is Near

Text: Exodus 33:1-17

This message is part of the series on Dwelling in His Presence. The Lord has established his desire to have fellowship with man from the onset. Mann lost the glorious opportunity through Adam and Eve and was sent away from the garden of Eden. God made a plan to reconcile man unto Himself. He chose Abraham as his own and raised a nation through him, which he called Israel. In Egypt, Israel saw the hand of God as he separated them away from all the plagues in Egypt. But the greatest thing he did is his presence in their life. Even through the wilderness, he showed up for them. But at a point he told Moses, he can’t be in the middle of the people, because of man’s sinful nature. The Tabernacle had to be erected outside of the camp. But Moses interceded for man, asking that the Lord will go on with the people. God later changed his plan that an angel will go on the journey and decided he will go with them in person. All through the book of Psalms, we find that the nearness of God was emphasized (Psalms 23:5-7; 27:4; 73:25-28; 139:1-24). But God isn’t seeking a lip service from man (Isaiah 29:13; 59:1). Sin is the separating factor. When he decided that he can’t go with Israel in the wilderness, it was because of sin. But Moses interceded using the nature of God: forgiving and merciful. The justifying nature of God and His truthfulness will not allow him to condone sin. Jesus came for that purpose to bridge the gap (Hebrews 4:16; 7:19,25; 10:1,19-22). The blood of the lamb settled the sinfulness of man and restored the fellowship with God. The Lord’s nearness is restored.