February 2
Today’s Reading: Exodus 33–34, Psalm 16, Acts 9
Read these word study first
Hebrew Word Insights (Exodus 33–34)
Pānîm (פָּנִים) — “Face / Presence” Used in Exodus 33:14–15
This word means face, presence, nearness, relational encounter. God’s presence is not a feeling — it is relational closeness. When God says, “My presence will go with you,” He is literally saying, “My face will be with you.” Yāda‘
(יָדַע) — “To know intimately” Exodus 33:13 —
“that I may know You” This is not head knowledge. It means deep relational knowing — the same word used for covenant intimacy. Moses wasn’t asking to know about God. He wanted to know God personally.
Kābôd (כָּבוֹד) — “Glory / weight / substance” Exodus 33:18 —
“Show me Your glory” This means weight, reality, worth, substance. Moses was asking, “Show me the true weight of who You are.”
Ḥesed (חֶסֶד) — “Steadfast love / covenant mercy” Exodus 34:6
This is God’s defining attribute — loyal love that never abandons the covenant. It is the love Israel almost lost, and the love Moses interceded to restore.
Scripture Focus
Exodus 33:1–3 (NLT)
Exodus 33:18–19 (NLT)
Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
Psalm 16:11 (NLT)
Reflection
God says, in essence, “Okay, get up and go. I am going to keep My word and give you the Promised Land — but I will not go with you.” And finally, the reality hit them. They realized that all along it wasn’t their strength, their wisdom, or their ability that brought them this far — it was God.
Israel finally realized they could have the Promised Land, they could have everything — but without God’s presence, they really had nothing. That is why they were in mourning. The loss was not the land; the loss was the Lord.
So many Christians live this same way today and don’t even notice when God’s presence is no longer going before them in the things they are doing.
Up until this point, God had carried Israel through immaturity. They complained, doubted, feared, and resisted — yet He still provided. But in Exodus 33, God was calling them higher. Not just to receive His blessings, but to walk in His presence. Not just to believe in miracles, but to align with His ways.
God said He would keep His promises, but He would not go with them because they were stubborn and rebellious. They wanted to gratify the flesh instead of walking by faith. And for the first time, they realized how devastating life would be without God near.
There is such a contrast here and such a clear principle. When we follow God only for what we can get — while complaining, resisting His ways, and choosing the flesh — God calls it rebellion. And rebellion always creates distance.
But Moses followed God closely. He met with God face to face. Not because he understood everything, but because he trusted God deeply. And that closeness produced an even greater hunger. The more time Moses spent with God, the more he wanted to know Him.
Moses stepped into holy intercession. He didn’t ask for provision or protection — he asked, “Show me Your ways, that I may know You.” Moses had obeyed God, served God, and walked with God — yet he longed to know Him more deeply.
Scripture says God spoke to Moses face to face like a friend, yet Moses still asked, “Show me Your glory.” Even intimacy produced hunger for deeper revelation. And God revealed His name — His mercy, grace, patience, and faithful love — but told Moses he could not see His face. Not because God rejected him, but because full revelation would one day come through Christ.
What Moses longed for in Exodus, we receive in Jesus. And what Israel nearly lost — God’s presence — is the greatest gift we are offered today.
Lesson for Me
God is not just calling me to believe in Him — He is calling me to walk with Him. Not just to receive His promises, but to value His presence. Not just to serve Him, but to know Him.
I can have activity without intimacy. Obedience without revelation. Ministry without deep fellowship. But without His presence, even blessings become empty.
Like Israel, I can grieve the Holy Spirit through stubbornness, resistance, or living for the flesh. And like Moses, I am invited into something higher — to seek God’s ways, not just His works; His heart, not just His help.
Examine My Own Heart
Prayer 🙏
Lord, forgive me for the times I have pursued Your blessings more than Your presence. I don’t want to walk into any promise if You are not with me. I don’t want success without You, ministry without You, or a future without You.
Like Moses, show me Your ways so that I may know You more deeply. Remove every stubborn place in my heart. Draw me out of the flesh and into true fellowship with Your Spirit. I want to be marked not by performance, but by Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen. 🙏
Takeaway The greatest blessing in life is not what God gives me — it is God Himself. Without His presence I have nothing. And with His presence, I have everything.
Today’s Reading: Exodus 33–34, Psalm 16, Acts 9
Read these word study first
Hebrew Word Insights (Exodus 33–34)
Pānîm (פָּנִים) — “Face / Presence” Used in Exodus 33:14–15
This word means face, presence, nearness, relational encounter. God’s presence is not a feeling — it is relational closeness. When God says, “My presence will go with you,” He is literally saying, “My face will be with you.” Yāda‘
(יָדַע) — “To know intimately” Exodus 33:13 —
“that I may know You” This is not head knowledge. It means deep relational knowing — the same word used for covenant intimacy. Moses wasn’t asking to know about God. He wanted to know God personally.
Kābôd (כָּבוֹד) — “Glory / weight / substance” Exodus 33:18 —
“Show me Your glory” This means weight, reality, worth, substance. Moses was asking, “Show me the true weight of who You are.”
Ḥesed (חֶסֶד) — “Steadfast love / covenant mercy” Exodus 34:6
This is God’s defining attribute — loyal love that never abandons the covenant. It is the love Israel almost lost, and the love Moses interceded to restore.
Scripture Focus
Exodus 33:1–3 (NLT)
The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… I will send an angel before you… But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”
Exodus 33:18–19 (NLT)
Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.” The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call out My name, Yahweh, before you…”
Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
Psalm 16:11 (NLT)
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.
Reflection
God says, in essence, “Okay, get up and go. I am going to keep My word and give you the Promised Land — but I will not go with you.” And finally, the reality hit them. They realized that all along it wasn’t their strength, their wisdom, or their ability that brought them this far — it was God.
Israel finally realized they could have the Promised Land, they could have everything — but without God’s presence, they really had nothing. That is why they were in mourning. The loss was not the land; the loss was the Lord.
So many Christians live this same way today and don’t even notice when God’s presence is no longer going before them in the things they are doing.
Up until this point, God had carried Israel through immaturity. They complained, doubted, feared, and resisted — yet He still provided. But in Exodus 33, God was calling them higher. Not just to receive His blessings, but to walk in His presence. Not just to believe in miracles, but to align with His ways.
God said He would keep His promises, but He would not go with them because they were stubborn and rebellious. They wanted to gratify the flesh instead of walking by faith. And for the first time, they realized how devastating life would be without God near.
There is such a contrast here and such a clear principle. When we follow God only for what we can get — while complaining, resisting His ways, and choosing the flesh — God calls it rebellion. And rebellion always creates distance.
But Moses followed God closely. He met with God face to face. Not because he understood everything, but because he trusted God deeply. And that closeness produced an even greater hunger. The more time Moses spent with God, the more he wanted to know Him.
Moses stepped into holy intercession. He didn’t ask for provision or protection — he asked, “Show me Your ways, that I may know You.” Moses had obeyed God, served God, and walked with God — yet he longed to know Him more deeply.
Scripture says God spoke to Moses face to face like a friend, yet Moses still asked, “Show me Your glory.” Even intimacy produced hunger for deeper revelation. And God revealed His name — His mercy, grace, patience, and faithful love — but told Moses he could not see His face. Not because God rejected him, but because full revelation would one day come through Christ.
What Moses longed for in Exodus, we receive in Jesus. And what Israel nearly lost — God’s presence — is the greatest gift we are offered today.
Lesson for Me
God is not just calling me to believe in Him — He is calling me to walk with Him. Not just to receive His promises, but to value His presence. Not just to serve Him, but to know Him.
I can have activity without intimacy. Obedience without revelation. Ministry without deep fellowship. But without His presence, even blessings become empty.
Like Israel, I can grieve the Holy Spirit through stubbornness, resistance, or living for the flesh. And like Moses, I am invited into something higher — to seek God’s ways, not just His works; His heart, not just His help.
Examine My Own Heart
- Am I more focused on what God gives me, or on knowing God Himself?
- Where have I resisted His ways instead of surrendering to them?
- Have I grown comfortable with spiritual activity but neglected intimacy?
- Do I hunger for His presence the way Moses did?
- If God removed every blessing but left Himself, would I still be satisfied?
Prayer 🙏
Lord, forgive me for the times I have pursued Your blessings more than Your presence. I don’t want to walk into any promise if You are not with me. I don’t want success without You, ministry without You, or a future without You.
Like Moses, show me Your ways so that I may know You more deeply. Remove every stubborn place in my heart. Draw me out of the flesh and into true fellowship with Your Spirit. I want to be marked not by performance, but by Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen. 🙏
Takeaway The greatest blessing in life is not what God gives me — it is God Himself. Without His presence I have nothing. And with His presence, I have everything.
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