Exodus 33

"He said, 'I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you.  I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.'"

Exodus 33:19

Moses has interceded for the Israelites, begging God to go before His people so that they will be set apart from the rest of the world.  He argues that, if God strikes the Israelites down in His anger, the rest of the world will not believe in the God who rescued His people from Egypt.  He also argues that, if the Lord doesn't go with His people, the world will know that God's people have lost favor in His sight, and they will mistreat the Israelites.

God has compassion on whom He has compassion.  God is gracious to whom He is gracious.  He cannot stay with His people for He would destroy them in His anger.  Instead, He agrees to go ahead of them, proclaiming His own name.  

Question of the Day:

Have you ever angered God so much that He could not stay with you?  What idols do you worship, whether a golden calf, another person, or a sin that you put before God?  What will you do to bring God back to you?

Prayer of the Day:

Remove from me all idols that keep me out of your presence.  Bring righteousness into my life through Your Spirit, so that I may be in Your presence once again.  Bring me back to You.  Bring Yourself back to me.  Amen.