“Hate the sin and love the sinner.”
MAHATMA GANDHI

Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ Now therefore I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is Your people.”
And He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
EXODUS 33:12-14 NASB

Moses had some real concerns about the job that he had been asked to do. He was leading a very large group of people through the arid regions of the Sinai desert, and they were not happy campers. They complained that the water was bitter, and then they complained that there was no water. They complained that there was no food, and then they complained that they didn’t like the food they received. When Moses went up the mountain to talk with God, they thought he had been gone too long and they complained. What a bunch of gripers. They griped so much that it caused Moses to gripe also. We can’t help but be influenced by those around us that we care about. Scripture tells me that the solution is not in myself, or others. Moses knew that he was favored of God because he had been chosen and called to lead the people, and he wondered why if he was favored did he have all these problems. The answer to the problem that Moses had was “rest,” and of course God knew this. The people had wearied him to the point that he was depressed, upset, was experiencing self-pity, and felt alone. Have you ever been there? I have. Of course my problems were of my own making, brought on by decisions that I had made. Most of my self-imposed problems were the result of self-centered decisions involving the use of alcohol and drugs. I have learned that whatever my problem may be, or whatever the source of my problem may be, the “rest” that I need to overcome it has to be more than just a nap. Physical rest is good for the body, but upon waking the problem will flood backing to my mind. I don’t think when God told Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” that he meant he would get a good nights sleep. I, like Moses need more than just sleep; I need the mental, emotional, and especially spiritual rest that only can come from the Father. Remember how our earthly fathers would put their arms around us and pull us to them, how it made everything all right? Remember how when we would stumble and hurt that we would be picked up and everything would be better? Remember when we would skin our knee and our mama would blow on it and it would feel better? That is the kind of rest that I need. When I hurt I need my heart fixed, not sent to bed. Moses had the promise that he would not be alone and that he would have rest. I also am able to rest in God’s promises. God does for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against the wind, but we must sail, and not drift, nor live at anchor.”
OLIVER WENDELL HOMES