Most Important Thing

By Jill Palmer

I want you to stop and think for a moment about what is important to you? What is a goal or a dream that God has given you? What promise are you aching to see fulfilled?

God promised to Abraham, Issac and Jacob a promised land. A people that would outnumber the stars in the sky. He miraculously delivered the people from Egypt and took care of them in the desert in the same way - with miracles. Yet the people still doubted Him.

In Exodus 33 God says to Moses,
“Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ ² I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. ³Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

God was going to fulfill His promises. He would deliver them into the promise land, give them everything He said He would, fight all the necessary battles...yet He was not going to go with them.

What would you do if God said that to you?

"I will give you... a great church/a great marriage/children/the perfect job/deliverance from your problems/all your hopes and dreams (whatever it is that He's promised you and you are contending for). But I will not go with you."

How would you respond to that? Our response reveals a lot about our heart, our deepest desires and our relationship with God.  

Moses' response reveals much about this man of faith. He says,
"If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?....Show me your glory”

Moses knew what the most important thing was - God presence. Without it what would they have? Nothing! Sure they'd have the promise, they'd have a land flowing with milk and honey, they'd have their enemies defeated, but they wouldn't have the most important thing -- their God.


I believe God can answer any of my prayers and answer them beyond what I could ask, think or imagine. But do I want Him to if He isn't with me to rejoice with Him? Do I want the perfect marriage or kids or even the perfect church if He isn't in the midst of it all? Truly? No stinkin' way.

Did I come to that easily? No. There was wrestling. There are prayers I have that I am desperate for Him to answer. But in the end, I want Him. Only Him. The Maker. The Lover of my soul. The Most Important Thing.

Think again of the goals, dreams, promises God has given you. After this encounter with Moses (in which He revealed to Moses His presence!) God gave the Israelites everything He promised them and He went with them. 

He will do the same for you. He hasn't forgotten. He knows that the most important thing is His presence and He wants you to know that too, because He loves you.