Living in the Abiding Presence of God: Lessons from Joshua and Moses

The abiding presence of God is something every believer should desire - not just in church, but in our homes, workplaces, and everywhere we go. When we carry God's presence with us, it changes the very atmosphere around us because God is sovereign over every situation and circumstance we face.

What Does God's Presence Do in Our Lives?

Psalm 97 reveals powerful truths about what happens when God's presence is with us. The psalm declares that "The Lord reigns" and describes how "a fire goes before him" and "the mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth" (Psalm 97:1, 3, 5).

Enemies Are Defeated

When we dwell in God's abiding presence, enemies are defeated before us. This includes spiritual principalities and powers that would seek to influence people against us. Wherever God places us and wherever we go, if we are carriers of His presence, the battle is already won.

Obstacles Melt Away

No matter what obstacles we face while walking on God's path, they "melt like wax at the presence of the Lord." This gives us tremendous security and confidence, knowing that God reigns wherever we are and whatever circumstances we face.

God's Glory Is Revealed

God's presence reveals His glory to people around us. His power becomes a cause for celebration because God always acts in righteousness and justice, with pure motives - unlike human motivations that can be mixed or selfish.

How Do We Maintain Reverence for God's Presence?

Learning from Joshua's Encounter

In Joshua 5:13-15, we see Joshua encountering the commander of the Lord's army before the battle of Jericho. When Joshua asked, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" the response was clear: "No, but as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come" (Joshua 5:14).

This encounter teaches us several crucial lessons:

God is not a weapon we wield. While God fights on behalf of His people, He is not there for us to command, even when our intentions are good. God is the commander of the army that we follow - we don't tell God what to do.

Maintain holy reverence. When told to remove his sandals because the ground was holy, Joshua obeyed immediately. We need to remember that our times with God are holy moments deserving our full attention and respect.

Ask what God wants to say. Joshua's response was beautiful: "What does my Lord say to his servant?" Instead of immediately launching into our prayer lists, we should first ask what God wants to communicate to us.

The Importance of Inquiry

Joshua's life shows us the clear difference between following God's strategy versus our own plans. At Jericho, following God's unusual battle plan led to tremendous victory. But at Ai, following human reasoning without first inquiring of God resulted in defeat.

The best success we can ever have is to find out what God is saying and simply do it. That's where we find our "Jericho moments" - times of victory and breakthrough where we plunder the enemy's camp.

What Can We Learn from Moses About God's Presence?

Prioritising Relationship Over Results

In Exodus 33, Moses had a massive assignment - leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. But notice what he prayed for. Instead of asking for power, signs, and wonders, Moses prayed: "Show me your way that I may know you" (Exodus 33:13).

With everything before him, Moses prayed that he would know God more. This reveals a crucial truth: God is the prize. The victories are wonderful, the Promised Land is amazing, but God Himself is the ultimate prize.

Making Effort to Meet with God

Moses regularly inconvenienced himself to spend time with God. The tabernacle was pitched "far from the camp," requiring significant effort to reach. But when Moses made that effort, "the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses" (Exodus 33:9).

The same principle applies to us today. When we make the effort to spend time with God - even when it's inconvenient - He will meet with us. The good news is we don't need to travel to a distant tabernacle; we can call upon the Lord from our living rooms, and He will draw near to us.

Intimacy with Reverence

Scripture says God spoke with Moses "face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11). Yet when Moses asked to see God's glory, God said he couldn't see His face and live. This apparent contradiction teaches us that we can have intimacy and friendship with God while maintaining proper reverence - He's not just a "mate," but the all-powerful King of kings.

How Does God Reveal Himself to Us?

When Moses asked to see God's glory, God responded by saying He would show Moses His goodness instead. God wanted to reveal who He is, not just display His power. This teaches us that knowing God Himself is even better than seeing miracles and signs.

Faith for the miraculous comes out of knowing God Himself. When God doesn't answer our prayers exactly as we expect, we should stay open because He may be wanting to show us who He is rather than just what He can do.

Why Should We Seek God's Person Over His Power?

The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus provides a perfect example. After Jesus' resurrection, these men were discouraged and disbelieving. Jesus drew near to them and revealed Himself through the Scriptures - not through performing a miracle.

Their response was to invite Jesus to "abide with us." This is what leads us into the fullness of what God has prepared for us - not seeking power for its own sake, but seeking the person of Jesus.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to shift your focus from what you need God to do to who God is. Instead of immediately presenting your prayer requests when you spend time with God, start by asking, "What does my Lord want to say to me?" Make the effort to inconvenience yourself for quality time with God, treating these moments as holy encounters deserving your full attention.

Consider these questions as you apply this message:

• Am I seeking God's power or God's person in my prayer life?
• Do I maintain proper reverence while also enjoying intimacy with God?
• When facing obstacles, do I first inquire of God or rely on my own understanding?
• Am I willing to inconvenience myself to spend quality time in God's presence?
• How can I cultivate a lifestyle of worship that keeps my heart focused on Jesus?

Remember, it's not because we are after power, but because we are after the person of Jesus that makes all the difference. When we prioritize knowing God over using God, we position ourselves to walk in His abiding presence and see His kingdom advance through our lives.