I've been reading through Exodus, so I opened up to chapter 33. As I read through verses 12-23, it seemed to me that Moses was feeling overwhelmed with his job of leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. He pleaded with God, "If I have found favor in Your sight, please show me now Your ways, that I may know You in order to find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is Your people." (vs. 13)God's response to Moses in the next verse is such an encouragement to my often overwhelmed heart. "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Wow. What more could a person ask for? God's presence..... and.... rest? Wait. Moses is in the process of leading a huge group of people across a desert, and God promises him rest? That thought amazes me. I guess I sort of expected God to promise Moses that He would be with him on this journey. But to promise him rest? That astounds me. And it also gives me the hope that in the middle of facing my own overwhelming situation, God will not only be with me, but He can give me rest.
Sometimes I look at my circumstances and feel that I am staring up at a mountain that appears to be impossible to climb. But I have a promise I'll be holding on to in the coming days...."My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." God is with me. No matter what I face. No matter what He asks me to do. He will never leave me to face the mountain by myself. And He can give me rest. Just like Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...." Even as I'm climbing the mountain of my situation, God can give me rest. I can give Him my weariness, my inadequacy, and my uncertainties and rest in Him, knowing that He has a plan, and He has everything under control.
