Broken Bread
Daily Devotions from the Daily Light
by Evan Hopkins
July 12
My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.--Exod. 33:14
Owing to Israel's apostasy in returning to the idolatry of Egypt during the absence of Moses in the Mount, the Lord had declared He could no longer continue to take up His abode in their midst. "And Moses took the tent" (not the tabernacle, for that had not yet been reared--probably his own tent), "and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation." This was Israel's relation to the divine Presence. And God now threatened to withdraw that Presence from them altogether. He consented to drive out their enemies before them, and to give them the land; but He said, "I will not go up in the midst of thee." Moses felt that if His Presence were withheld, no matter what other blessings might be granted, they would all be as nothing in comparison with that one essential and all-inclusive privilege. So Moses said, "If thy presence go not wit me, carry us not up hence." Jehovah was gracious to His people, and granted to Moses, in spite of their rebellion, his request. "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."