Exodus 34:9 says, “And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people: and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.”
EMMANUEL, God with us!
Driving down Hwy 395, north of Spokane, Washington during the Christmas season, I saw a huge display of lights that spelled out the word, “Emmanuel.” That is a popular word in the Christmas season. The problem is just that—it is far too often a “seasonal” word.
My question is, do we really want God to go among us?
One of the signs of the season is the wonderful aromas. Fresh-baked cookies, the smell of the Christmas tree, holly, Christmas dinner, etc ., make us want to be home for the holidays. I would ask: what does home smell like the rest of the year?
In Deuteronomy 23:10-14, we see that God wants a clean camp and a holy camp. The unclean man needed to wash with water. The paddle on the weapon was to be used to, “cover that which cometh from thee.” Even a cat does this. The reason for this was because God was walking in the camp. He didn’t want to see, smell, or step in this filth.
Most of our homes are cleaner than this. Most of our lives are cleaner than this. Let’s not forget, however, that all sin stinks.
Now I want to look at Exodus 34:9. This is a prayer of Moses. The children of Israel had overtly sinned. They had worshipped the molten calf. They were dancing and playing naked. Moses dealt with the people, and then went up to God again in hopes of making atonement for them. The Lord plagued the people for their sin. He told Moses to continue leading the people to the Promised Land. The Lord said He would send an angel to lead them. He Himself would not go among them, because they were stiffnecked and He would no doubt consume them.
The tabernacle was put outside the camp. If people wanted to seek the Lord, they could go to it. Moses and Joshua went to the tabernacle and met with the Lord. The rest of the crowd watched and worshipped from their tent door.
A house, a church, a nation, or a person that can only see God afar is in a sad state. God had already promised to lead them by an angel, yet Moses prayed; “O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us.” It is a lonely life when God is not among us. Did you ever think it might be lonely for God too?
After Moses’ prayer, it was God who said, “I will make a covenant.” Immediately He set up all the conditions for that covenant. The rest of Exodus records this. After all was completed by Moses and the people, the tabernacle set up, and all conditions met, God came in a powerful way among the people.Â
All this pointed to God’s final covenant—Jesus! John said God “dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Jesus said before He left this earth that the Father would send another Comforter, the Spirit of truth, to not only dwell with us, but in us. The baby born in a stinking cave cleaned up the sin problem wherever He went. He knocks at every door. Every house needs His cleaning. With Him we can smell good wherever we go.
May our year-round prayer be—Go among us, Lord!
