Possessing the Land

Journey Into The Promised Land

Exodus 33:12–23 (CSB):

12 Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’ 13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”

14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”

17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”

18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”

19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” 21 The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

The Manifested Presence Of God

Moses was convinced that without God’s presence in his life, it was useless for him to attempt anything. When God called him to lead His people to the border of the promised land, Moses prayed…

“See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.” And He said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” And Moses said unto him, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” (Exodus 33:12-15)

Moses knew he must have the presence of God if he was to fulfill his destiny. Today, we have so many programs, so much technology, ritual, and form that we think we can do without the presence of God and substitute a form of godliness that denies the power of God! But we must have God’s presence! Why? So that the world, the ungodly, and every enemy of the Church will know that there is something different about us. This was the premise upon which Moses based his plea for God’s presence:

“For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.” And the Lord said unto Moses, “I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” (Exodus 33:16-17)

Moses said, “I’m not going to take a single step unless I know that you are with me.” Moses knew what we must come to know. There was only one thing that set Israel apart. It wasn’t their army, their wealth, or their religious or educational systems. There was only one thing that set them apart and made them special…the presence of the living God.

Have you ever wondered what would happen to the Church if it was governed by the presence of God instead of a bunch of committee members sitting around in some religious institution or denomination making a bunch of rules?

Moses declared that Israel would be governed by one principle alone. They would operate on one principle alone…and that was the presence of God!

Make this declaration:

I will live my life and fulfill my ministry on one principle alone — the manifested presence of God.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

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