Today, a lot of pastors define God’s favor as possessions, positions and acquisitions — better homes, cars and jobs, a happier family and a growing income. I believe God favors his people in this way but we short-change ourselves when we live for anything but his ultimate favor.
We all know about the biblical concept of a promised land — relief from bondage and the joy of a blessed life. The original Promised Land was a gift God gave to ancient Israel — a literal place called Canaan, a fertile land bursting with oversized fruits and flowing rivers.
This was the stuff of dreams for the Israelites who had been beaten down and exiled for generations. Yet when they arrived at Canaan’s border, God made an unusual statement to Moses: “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 33:3).
God’s words to his people here may sound shockingly harsh, but in context, we see that God had freed Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt and now, on the cusp of their entry into the Promised Land, God said he wasn’t going to go with them because even after all the miraculous things he had done for them, they still complained every time they faced a new hardship. Sadly, their experiences and the miracles God performed for them never translated into faith.
But Moses’ faith was different! He knew the goodness of God, as demonstrated in all his supernatural works for Israel. In fact, the Lord’s favor toward his people seemed bottomless and Moses marveled at the character of God who mercifully performed all these things on their behalf. His attitude was, “Lord, if you won’t be there, then I’m not going.”
Moses understood that far greater than receiving blessings was experiencing the presence of the compassionate, loving God who bestowed them. He longed to see God’s glory — “Please, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18) — and I pray that today you will have this same longing.