The Power of His Presence

In Deuteronomy 29:1 God gave Moses the terms of the covenant between Him and Israel.   He then lays out what it takes to not only make a covenant, but to also keep a covenant.  Moses tells them, “Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land.  With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders.  But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.  During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.  You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink.  I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.”  (verses 2-6)

The Lord then reveals the key to not only learning about covenant but also in keeping covenant.  “Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.  All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God…..  You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath.”  (verses 9-10, 12)

The Israelites had seen God do many miracles, signs, and wonders as he judged the Egyptians with ten plagues.  They saw Him part the Red Sea and they walked through on dry ground.  The Egyptian army was wiped out as they also tried to cross and the waters went back into place, drowning them.  They saw the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night which brought guidance, shade, light and warmth.  They also experienced God’s protection and provision for their bodies as they were fed with manna, water was supplied, and their clothes didn’t wear out.  Yet, with all these displays of God’s power and abilities they grumbled, complained and rebelled against Him again and again.  They were even quick to break covenant with God when Moses was away from them too long as he waited on God on Mt. Sinai for the ten commandments.  As he descended the mountain, he found them partying, getting drunk and worshipping a golden calf, calling it their new god who would take the place of God Jehovah. 

This happened because they had experienced the mighty hand of God, but not His face.  They say what He could do as provider, protector, deliverer, and savior yet they still didn’t “know” Him.  This is the reason that only Moses, Joshua and Caleb entered into the Promised Land.  These three not only knew how powerful God’s hand was, but they also knew Him as friend, Father, counselor, and companion. 

As I read articles and posts by many apostolic and prophetic men and women of God, I am hearing time and again that this is to be a year of seeking God’s presence.   It’s also a year of hearing His voice.  The two go hand-in-hand.  I am choosing to press in to putting more of a premium upon the presence of God in my life.  This should affect our prayer life, church life, family life, and personal life.  God wants you to prosper in every area of life.  It begins with forming a spiritual covenant with Him and then maintaining that covenant by remaining in His presence as we take time to seek His face more than His hand.