Have you ever wondered why God would repeatedly echo these words to someone He was recruiting to work for Him? “I will never leave you nor forsake you!” Could this have been His line to put His new ‘agents’ at ease? For the very thought of being in God’s company is indeed scary. The sheer fact that a human being could deal directly with the God of the universe was what made them uneasy. Yet, in the account of Genesis, God Himself made it a habit to visit His creation Adam and Eve in the cool of the night. (Genesis 3:8)
In general, a good many of God’s prophets or servants prior to their first encounter had never heard God’s voice – nor had they imagined that God could have spoken to them. As a result, their first reactions had been to find out whose voice that could have been. Therefore, on several occasions, God would have to introduce Himself lest His would-be agents get all frightened each time.
Isaac was tempted to go over to Egypt because of a severe drought in Israel, but was cautioned by the LORDd. “Do not go to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.” (Genesis 26:2-3) Isaac obeyed and stayed. However, the local inhabitants put some obstacles on his way. To set his mind at ease, God appeared to Isaac and said to him: “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and I will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” (Genesis 26:24)
When it was Jacob’s turn, God appeared to him in a dream and said to him: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:14-15)
To Joshua, whom God had chosen to succeed Moses, He said these uplifting words: “As I was with Moses so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5b)
Taking an assignment from an invisible God is no easy matter. Nothing could be more daunting – then and now. Remember you are dealing with the Maker of the universe. So, we find God each time that He made such overtures, underlining that His presence would go with those whom He had chosen.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the All-Mighty. I will say of my God He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2) The psalmist re-echoes the need for being in God’s presence all the time - to enjoy security. For the believer to look to God as a God of Refuge and Strength, means spending time with Him under His shelter.
When God first spoke to Abraham who was a pagan then, he did not hesitate to abide by His instructions. The voice said: “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) Bible records that “Abram left as the LORD had told him.” (Genesis 12:4) Strangely, God did not underline the foregone assurance that He would be with him. The reason could have been that Abraham, at the time of the encounter, was mature enough to recognise that that voice could only have been the God of Israel, the only true God.
It is important that we cultivate the presence of God in all our endeavours. After the Children of Israel had sinned by making for themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf, God wanted to punish them and to have nothing to do with them. He threatened Moses: “Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke to you of, and my angel will go before you.” (Exodus 32:34)
Utterly displeased with the behaviour of the Children of Israel, God could not hide it. “Leave this place, you and the people you brought out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying I will give it to your descendants…..Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:1,3)
Moses then pleaded with God: “You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have said you have found favour with me.’ If you are not pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.’ (Exodus 33:12-13) This broke God’s heart and He replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14) Moses retorted: “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15)
Prophet Isaiah had prophesied: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel – God with us!” When God comes to dwell with us, it means proximity and a closer walk with Him.
Moses was privileged to have spent forty days and forty nights in God’s presence. The resultant effect was that God’s brightness lit up Moses’ face such that when he descended, his face shone so brightly that his people could not look at his face directly. He used a veil to reduce its effect on all who looked at him. God’s glory was reflecting on Moses’ face, altering his countenance.
And so, when we cultivate being in God’s presence, through prayer and fasting and by reading His Word, we become transformed and can transmit His thoughts with accuracy.
Elisha would not let his eyes off his master Elijah who was about to ascend to heaven because he had warned him ‘If you see me then you will receive a double portion of my anointing’. Let us all learn to cherish and nurture a close-knit relationship with the written Word of God as revealed in the Bible and in His Son. Amen.