The Necessity of God's Presence

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026

Readings: Exodus 33 | Psalm 37:21-40

After the disaster of the golden calf, Exodus 33 presents a scary scenario: God tells Moses that the people can still have the Promised Land, but He's not going. God is done. Instead, He says He’ll send an angel, but His personal presence is withdrawn because of their rebellion. Moses’ response is the high water mark of spiritual maturity: “If your presence does not go with us, then just forget the whole thing” (Jesse's translation). Moses realizes that a land flowing with milk and honey is a wasting desert if God isn’t there. This is a profound theological shift. It’s not about the blessing; it’s about the Blesser.

In the continuing narrative of Scripture, this craving for God’s face culminates in the Incarnation. Moses asks to see God’s glory, and he’s hidden in the cleft of a rock while a hurricane of glory passes by. In the New Testament, we see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). The challenge here is to ask ourselves: would we be happy with a successful life, a healthy family, and a great career if God wasn’t part of the package? We often want the benefits of the Kingdom without the King. Psalm 37:21-40 echoes this by reminding us that the “steps of a man are established by the Lord.” Our path isn’t defined by our destination, but by who we are walking with. To be a Christian is to be someone who refuses to move an inch unless the Presence goes before us.

Devotional Prompts:

If God offered you all your heart’s desires but told you His presence would be absent, would you take the deal?
Moses asked to see God’s glory. What does “glory” mean to you in the context of your daily struggles?
In what ways are you currently moving forward without first seeking the guidance and presence of the Spirit?
How does the “cleft of the rock” in Exodus 33 serve as a metaphor for our protection in Christ?

Prayer: O God, show us Your glory! Let Your presence go with us, for without You we are nothing. Reveal Your glory to us in the mundane and the magnificent alike, for the sake of Your Name. Strengthen our steps and be our stronghold in times of trouble. Amen.