Exodus 33 The Command to Leave Sinai (Deuteronomy 1:1–8)
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”
OUCH! Until now, God has manifested His presence with the Israelites by sending a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The Israelites have come to take God’s presence for granted, assuming they can do whatever they want in God’s presence. But what happens the day the Israelites creates the golden calf idol? Evidently, that pillar of cloud is still there as a witness while God’s people lurch into idolatry and orgies. Only the Levites, apart from Aaron, pay attention to God’s presence. Now God threatens to remove His presence from the Israelites, lest they sin so grossly that God has no choice but to destroy them.
4 When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry. 5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.
This statement serves as a wake-up call for the Israelites. Suddenly, they remember that the God who has led them is the same God who has destroyed an entire Egyptian army. If God withdraws His presence, they will be vulnerable to attack from all the surrounding tribes. This is also the God who has been providing quails and manna, as well as water in the wilderness. If God withdraws His presence, what catastrophes might occur? But why does God order them to remove their jewelry? The Israelites got most of that jewelry from the Egyptians as they were fleeing Egypt, which means that much of the jewelry would have figures of Egyptian deities or charms of various kinds. Undoubtedly, the Israelites worshiping the golden calf wore as much jewelry as they could during the celebration. God wants the Israelites to remove their jewelry as a sign of mourning and a demonstration of repentance and obedience and as a sign that they are truly turning away from the Egyptian deities many of them have worshiped. Eventually, this jewelry will be used to create the tabernacle for which Moses has received instructions.
What about us? Is there anything we are doing or saying or even wearing that will separate us from the presence of God? Do we swear carelessly? Watch videos we shouldn’t? Gossip, damaging another’s reputation? Discourage people? Compensate for feelings of inadequacy by overeating, binge shopping, or other compulsive behaviors? Pray! God is waiting for us to leave all those things behind and allow Him to fill us with His love, His grace, and His peace.
The Tent of Meeting
7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. 8 Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.
11 Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
When the Israelites repent, the cloud of God’s presence remains with them. Moses pitches his tent outside the camp, designating it as a Tent of Meeting for anyone who wished to inquire from the Lord. We don’t know how many people visit the Tent to pray; however, when Moses enters the Tent, the pillar of cloud representing God’s presence remains at the entrance of the Tent, demonstrating that God is meeting with Moses personally. God and Moses have friendly conversations. The very idea is mind-boggling. The Creator of the Universe is speaking directly with Moses. But what is equally mind-boggling is that God is ready to speak to any of us at any time if we will only listen. God has created us to have fellowship with Him.
Notice something else: When Moses goes to speak with God, Joshua accompanies him. But even after Moses has left the Tent of Meeting, Joshua remains there to speak with God. God is drawing Joshua to Himself, teaching him and forming him so that eventually he would be able to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.
One last thing: When Moses enters the Tent of Meeting and the pillar of cloud stands before the Tent, all the Israelites stand at the doors of their tents to worship. These people have repented and are learning to reverence God. It is impossible to worship God with an unrepentant heart.
Nobody is perfect apart from God. God knows our weakness and our failings. One of the most amazing things about God is His willingness to meet with us, to forgive us, and to clean us up if we will only let Him. 1 John 1:5-10 tells us, “5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. “
Please don’t read these verses and despair! When we give God even a thumbnail’s worth of obedience, He can work with that and begin the cleanup process. One simple prayer I love is to pray “God, make me willing to be willing.” Once we give God permission, He can begin working in our hearts and do amazing things with us. Andrew van der Bijl was a Dutch mercenary soldier who became a fervent Christian, smuggling Bibles into countries closed to the Gospel. When Andrew wasn’t sure he could pray for God to change him, friends suggested he pray, telling God he was willing to be made willing to change. That prayer was sufficient. Andrew went on to found the ministry Open Doors. At the time of Andrew’s death in 2022, Open Doors was active in over 60 countries. The ministry distributes 300,000 Bibles and 1.5 million Christian books and materials annually. The group is active in providing relief, aid, community development, and trauma counseling, while advocating for persecuted Christians around the globe.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help us to change into the people You want us to be. We are willing to be made willing, and we give You permission to change us completely so that our natures become like Yours. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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