When Moses left Egypt, he had no map, no idea of which way to go or what awaited him when he arrived. He had the presence of God to guide him, and he hedged his future (and that of the hundreds of thousands of Israelites who went with him) on the voice he heard in the wilderness, who appeared with a sweeping claim of authority and sovereignty.
“This is what you are to say to the Israelites:
I AM has sent me to you.”
—Exodus 3:14
This story is a familiar one in Sunday school classes, Hollywood movies, and sermon illustrations. What I love about Scripture and these beloved stories is how many different lenses we can wear to examine them. While we could read this passage through Moses’s eyes, as I usually do, I believe it’s even more compelling to read it through the lens of God’s presence that was with Moses and His people.
Beginning in Exodus 3, God revealed He had come to Moses because of the cries of His people. “Then the LORD said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings’ ” (v.7).
God was there in Egypt, with His people. His omnipresence—His everywhere-ness—meant that He never left. And so when He called them out of Egypt to follow Him into the wilderness, they went. In Exodus 6, God identified Himself to Moses as the God who had been with his fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His presence wasn’t new, but it was revealed in a new, personal way to Moses.
God directed the Israelites’ route, not “along the road toward the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby” but “around toward the Red Sea” (Exodus 13:17,18). God wasn’t calling them out of oppression and then letting them stumble around, waiting for the stars to direct their steps; rather, He had a specific path for them to follow, one in which He would lead and they would have to learn to trust and follow Him.
His presence, provision, and promises are everywhere in this story. He was there, constantly providing for His people, whether defeating their enemies, sending manna and quail to nourish them, literally lighting their way, and more. He faithfully kept His promises to Moses.
When God called Moses, He didn’t promise him an easy road. In fact, Moses himself never made it to the promised land. But God did promise Himself, His presence, and His perfect provision. We all know the seasons of our life that are a little like the wilderness. For the roads that feel like dead ends or the roundabouts that circle us around and around, I would love a good map to show me how to navigate those turns. But I know from these stories that He was always there. And today, I need to know that those promises, and God’s unfailing presence, are mine as well.
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67 thoughts on "God Leads His People into His Presence"
I AM is with me just as He was with the Israelites! He is with me in the wilderness. He holds me in His presence.
Grateful for the bible to continually remind us through Gods work of how very real and present He is in times of need. My prayer this week is that His presence is made known.
God leads us to him. We may feel like we are the ones that find our way to him. But I believe that is not the full way of seeing God’s interaction with us. The people were called out of Egypt after God heard their cries. Our God is a god of action. Doing things to provide food, direction and a promise land.
I love His Presence, Provision, Promise
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Love this. He was there and he heard along along. Even when the wait is long and God feels silent, He is there and he hears. Even when things don’t go how I expect, he is there, he is the God who Sees me. He is near in every season even when I am too overcome with my thoughts, feelings, responsibilities to feel it.
This is perfect as I ponder on the upcoming graduates in my life. The Lord’s point of view is a powerful one!
I have always heard this passage and the story of God telling Moses to lead his people out of Egypt from Sunday School class, but what I didn’t know was how he guided them, and to know it was by a pillar of a cloud by day and a burning flam by night was truly amazing. Wow. God is amazing and all present.
He is faithful and with us every step of the way. He is known through all generations.
Amen ❤️
I’m reading along in the book as well as the app, and the pages on Mountains in scripture were so cool! It details different instances where God used mountains to connect with his people and prophets. Love seeing patterns like that in scripture!
Woooooo today’s reading hit is a way that is both overwhelming and amazing! When they talk about how words fail you in certain moments today was it. Today He was definitely speaking to me from my Bible readings to today reading in this plan. It all flowed together to tell me, reassure me, and remind me that through it all He is ever present!
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is how God wants the people of Israel to know him! Not just for his power and might, but for his faithfulness, his ever presence with them.
God you have been faithful to generations, you haven’t distanced yourself from your people, but seek them to know you more personally. You won’t fail.
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Exodus 6:6-8 is one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament. All God’s “I am” and “I will” statements remind me it is Him, not me. He guides my life, not me. Beautiful reminder this morning.
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Julia C, Kelly (Neo), Foster Mama, and others I didn’t get here thank you for praying ! I have a GI appointment tomorrow which I pray will be helpful. Mercy, thank you for praying and I will also like to contribute to a fundraiser ! Searching, thank you for praying it is so good to see you all and be connected while studying about our God!
I was so touched by the idea that the same promises God made to Moses about His presence are also mine. Those words felt like a comforting hug! Just thinking that God promises me His presence and guidance regardless of where I am in life brings me so much joy. I definitely needed the reassurance. I’m praying for all of you and am so blessed to be a part of this community ❤️❤️
I like this little after reading passage because it’s such a reminder that God sees our troubles. He’s not just standing off to the side without a care. He’s right in it with us, helping us through. It makes you feel a little less hopeless and alone when times are tough. It’s a motivator to ‘keep on keeping on’ and let God be your hand-hold. He’ll walk a little ahead of you, just hold His hand tight and let him show you the way.
Thank you all for being here! I appreciate all the support and all of your insights on the daily readings and for sharing your storied so we know how to pray for you.
Hoping you were all blessed by reading about God’s persistence in pursuing us and wanting us to be in relationship and fellowship with Him. ❣️❣️
With much love and many Hugs SHES, In Christ!!
I love that this same God travels with us through all of the winding paths of our lives.
I am sorry that I am not able to keep up with everybody’s comments and requests. Right now I’m in a point of transition with jobs and still working the night shift. Please know that I am covering you all in prayer. Our God is so Awesome that even if I don’t say every single request by name He knows. I love you all, Sisters.
MERCY I would be happy to help in anyway I can for Amanda.
When reading Exodus 13:17-22, I am reminded how thoughtful God is. He thought about the fact that if the Israelites faced the Philistines, they would want to turn back. I am so grateful that He already knows all of my trepidations and my worries and He has a plan to take care of that.
Thank you, Lord for your never ending thoughtfulness and kindness, even when I don’t deserve it.❤️
I love how The Father draws His children together. Here, as we seek to study His word I can’t help but think of the endearing smile that might emanate from His face as His daughters share insights,experiences,needs, feelings and info to grasp better what the guiding of His word means to us as we live out our steps, ordered by the Lord. The word is our pillar of cloud by day and our pillar of fire by night !
@ Ginny I love this so much and couldn’t agree more with you ❤️
When reading Exodus I am always amazed at how “put together” God is! He knew the greater the suffering the greater the miracle would be and how the Israelites would “learn to trust and follow Him” if He took them through the wilderness. I often think about my own “Egypt” and “wilderness” and it’s so amazing to live with a “exodus” mindset and be fortunate enough to look ack and see Gods hand in everything- down to the people he placed in my life, the experiences that shape my outlook, and of course HIS PRESENCE in all of it!! Thank you Lord for your presence! Happy Tuesday She’s!
Mia Faith,
Your faith in God through this is so beautiful. Glad you are still showing up here despite the pain you have endured. We love you!
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@JULIA C: you were missed ❤️. Hope your time off was refreshing.
@ERB: how is your mom’s wrist healing? prayers for your parents, your household that all is well. Thank you for your reflections.❤️
Morning she’s. Couple of things stood out to me today:
– God leads not His people the nearest way, but He leads them the best way through the wilderness (Exodus 13:18). Allow God’s wilderness to pass through our lives. Wilderness is a season of lack, discomfort, unfamiliarity, both heat in the day and cold at night, but God’s people are to be humbled and proved that their heart is with God.
-“Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt” (Exodus 13:17). On the journey to the promised land, there will be war (guaranteed). May we not waver and turn straight back to slavery (what’s familiar) by God’s grace. This is hard, but it takes God and the courage He can instill in us to go through.
@MIA FAITH: thank you for your update, i am so glad to hear from you, continual prayers for you and your sweet ones.
@SEARCHING, @FOSTER MAMA: thank you for wanting to join with the Go fund me. Yes hello from a fellow Canadian sister ;) there are quite many Canadian shes on here too I believe.
@VICTORIA E: healing from stomach bug, so sorry.
Dear shes, fellow readers, please advise by commenting if you’d like to join and fundraise for AMANDA NOBLE as a token of encouragement. If there’s enough interest and responses, the next steps would be executed. Thank you shes.
@SEEKING UNDERSTANDING: I saw your question yesterday about where Cain’s wife comes from. Some sources from Bible gave us good hints, “”The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters” (Genesis 5:4), so Adam and Eve had other children as well. Though only Cain, Abel and Seth were mentioned by name to us readers in Genesis. A closer look at the Hebrew word for “wife” in Genesis reveals something readers may miss in translation. It was more obvious to those speaking Hebrew that Cain’s wife was likely his sister. The word ishshah is the word for “woman,” and it means “from man.” This can be seen in Genesis 2:23 where the name “woman” (ishshah) is given to one who came from Adam. Thus, Cain’s wife is a descendant of Adam/man. The mark for Cain is by Cain’s personal pleading with God, though he is a murderer of his brother out of envy, and when he pleaded with God to spare him, that God is really merciful, God granted the mark. Hope this helps.
Be blessed dear sisters.
I am here…a little more sporadically than typical… but here. Thank you for all your prayers. They have held us up in these hard days. We have a long way to go as while we held services, we still don’t have his body from the GBI! We are still waiting in this very slow process. Then we still have to have the actual burial with just our children and my sister-in-law (since we already had the graveside service).
Love this study and how I know His presence is guiding me and my family through this.
Bless you all and I join in on prayer requests for you all!
Keeping you all in my prayers.
@ Mia You and your family are in my prayers as you all navigate this hard time ❤️ Even if only sporadically, we’re all so happy to see you still here.
Thank you for the update, Mia Faith. I cannot imagine how heavy and hard this is for you. Holding you and your family in prayer. Praying that even when things feel hopeless and bleak, you’d see that pillar of gods light guiding you forward
When they left Egypt with Moses, the lives of the Israelites were completely disrupted from what they knew (yes, they had terrible lives as slaves, but they were going into the unknown). I feel like my life has been totally disrupted by the events of the past few years – everything I knew and hoped for has gone. Today’s readings have reminded me that over and over in the Bible there are examples of people whos lives were unexpectedly disrupted, but it wasn’t unexpected to God. And he had a plan for them, to lead them on from their life altering situations into a future he is already present in and knows all about. This has encouraged me to trust God and believe the verse, ‘I know the plans I have for you…’
Tina, what a beautiful reminder of that old song “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.” His presence is always with His children, we just need to be still enough to hear Himself, feel Him, see Him, know Him and receive what He has for us.
I have sung this song in many places but it doesn’t matter where I sing it, I always feel His presence! I think sometimes we just need to acknowledge Him and He pours out into our hearts more of His love.
Love you all and praying for you!
I really love the whole idea of God leading us into His presence. Reminds me of the prodigal son, when the father ran out to the son. He didn’t sit on the porch swing, waiting for his son to arrive. He got up and ran to his son. I’ve seen that in my own life with God. I don’t always see it, but when I’m looking, I see Him approaching me, planning ahead for things I need, preparing the journey, preparing me for the journey. There are so many things going on in my life right now, I can’t even begin to thank God for HIS VERY PRESENCE, preparing me, preparing the way, preparing for my needs, leading me along when I don’t know what to do. I sometimes can’t grasp His love for me, it seems too good to be true. The little things He does to show His awareness of everything going on. He is such a great God, words cannot describe. I’m so thankful for this study, for all of you on here. Some day we will all meet and be able to see each other face to face. Sisters in Christ. What a blessing each of us are!!
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AIMEE RODGERS – My step daughter had dibilitating migraines. She now takes a med that is injected once a month and is on a Migraine diet. The diet is a bit tough. She has 2 full pages of what she cannot eat and 1 page of what she can. BUT she is much better.
“And today, I need to know that those promises, and God’s unfailing presence, are mine as well.”
We are God’s and He is ours. The joy we can find in that…
What resonated with me today – Exodus 6:6-7. It’s as though God was also speaking to us today: “I will free you from being slaves” – He freed us from the slavery of sin. (Romans 6:17-18) “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” – He redeemed us from the curse of the law, Galatians 3:13. “I will take you as my own people and I will be your God.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Praise God that He leads all of His people into His presence – not just the Old Testament saints, but us today as well. As He leads, may we learn to trust and follow Him, wherever His path may take us…Thank You Father for always being with us. Thank You that You lead and guide us, always going before us. To You be the praise and glory!
Have a blessed Tuesday! Continued prayers for all your requests.❤️
Dear Tina, all I can say after that beautiful commentary was AMEN and AMEN! ❤️
May we find and feel His presence today wherever we are.
I feel like I’ve been wandering in the wilderness these last months and I pray that I would be very aware of His presence, His provision and His promises today. That is also my prayer for all of you this day. Lord, help us all to live in the Freedom that Christ’s blood has bought for us.
GM She’s
All my daily “sermons” on the radio this morning went along with this message here today, about having the presence of God in us. The examples in the 3 different messages were Samson, Joshua, and Peter. They all had God with them but when they when by their own devices and vices that is when they failed miserably. Which I guess is all the stories of the Bible –the must keep God’s presence forefront in all we do, all our decisions, actions and battles. I think of the guy in the whale as well, whom I can think of his name at the moment. But if we are OF Jesus Christ, we should want to trust and obey, and follow his will. Seems so easy, yet it is so hard with our flesh. Usually it takes us falling big in our own strength, failing, and being broken! Thank God for his restoration, and that’s where we get our badge of honor. We start realizing it’s much easier if we place it all in him and we succeed. It becomes a beautiful walk, not perfect, not without affliction, but yet a peace that it will work out.
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Prayers for each of you dear sisters!! May God bless and provide for each of your needs and fill you with His Light, Love, Peace and Assurance!! Amen.
Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.
This is my God, and I will praise Him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
*You are my strength and my song Lord and I will highly exalt You!!!
Exodus 13:17-18 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.” 18 So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation.
*may we know God and see how He leads, such thoughtfulness, compassion and care!!! May we follow Him!!!
Exodus 13:21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.
*the Lord KNOWS and He leads and guides!!! May we follow Him without fear, doubt, question or hesitation. Instead let us follow Him in full confidence, faith, boldness and trust!!!
Exodus 6:6-7 “Therefore tell the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians.
*God IS who He is, and He DOES as He says He will!!! POWERFUL statement right there!!! May I remember and honor it!!! Amen.
Exodus 3:4-5 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
“Here I am,” he answered.
5 “Do not come closer,” He said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
*one of my favorite word pictures of this, is in the movie Prince of Egypt. Goosebumps!!!
**today I noticed that it was only when God saw Moses go over to look, is when He spoke to him. And Moses without question or hesitation answered!! Wow!! This gives me another word picture… God waits for us to notice and discover Him/His wonders, THEN He comes/speaks to us… and in such a personal and intimate manner!!! This picture changes things!! May we answer Him without question or hesitation!! And may we pay attention, stay alert and be prepared!! Leaning on Him for ALL things!!! Amen.
Exodus 3:14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
*I Am.. thinking about the depth and totality of this, this morning… He always is, always was, and forevermore will be!!! Mind blowing and SO Grateful!!!
I always love reading Genesis. The stories of real people who are so close to God just gets me every time. I remember attending a fundraising event for a ministry to persecuted Christians around the World. The stories told that night had me in tears. It was like I was reading Genesis! The way they talked about God being with them and speaking to them was seriously like Moses seeing a burning bush. It reminded me that God is always with us, it’s just that we find it so hard to see Him and feel Him sometimes when we are not literally holding onto Him for our very lives. I am grateful that I do not live in a country that persecutes Christians (yet, ahem), but the closeness that these people felt…wow! That’s so much better than our cushy life. And it really is a glimpse of Heaven on Earth. Mind-blowing!
Genesis 15:13-14 ****
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Lord God,
Thank you for our She community. There are so many different stories represented by each person here. I pray we continue to have hope, encouragement, and faith for one another. Thank you, Lord, for your omnipresence. Even when the Israelites were suffering and oppressed, You were there. You saw. You only let the oppression go on for so long. You kept your promise to Abraham, when you revealed that his descendants would suffer for 400 years (Genesis 16:13-14). You delivered them just as You said you would. Your Word is faithful. Your Word does not return void. It will accomplish all it has set out to do. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
I’m so thankful for His Presence going before us, with us, surrounding us! There is Is. 41.10, Deut 31.8, and Josh. 1.9 that remind us, also, that God is always with us…He will never leave or forsake us! Hallelujah!
God promised Himself, His presence, and His provision. – Yes, Lord. I have been in the wilderness for so long. Lord be with me. Guide me, and provide for me.
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Reading thru the some of the full chapters from this morning’s Scriptures and once again, we see the importance of faith in our walk with our God. The children of Israel were desperate to get free from Egypt, yet – as part of the process of being freed, they were subjected to even worse conditions than they sought to escape.
God spoke to Moses about standing on holy ground – We Are Standing On Holy Ground is another impactful song … with His Presence around us, aren’t we always?
And the thankfulness, praise and worship in the song of Moses, how quickly they (and I) forget.
VICTORIA E – praying for healing of these issues, always good to see you.
MIA FAITH ❤️
CEE GEE ❤️
TINA ❤️
AMANDA NOBLE – praying for guidance and provision
FOSTER MAMA – always good to see you. Praying for time to be multiplied in this season.
MERCY ❤️ I’d love to help Amanda in some way
“The LORD is my strength and song. And He is my salvation.” Exodus 15:2. Time and time again, I do feel like I’m stuck in a round about or I’ve turned down a dead end. I get so caught up in the frustration of it all, that I forget what this scripture says and means. God is my strength. I have to lean on Him at all times. He is my song. I will praise him in the wilderness and the promise land. He is my salvation. He is the source. I have nothing to fear or worry about. I have to preserve in my hope.
AMANDA NOBLE.. thinking of you and prayerful, you feel the Lord’s presence today..❤
MIA FAITH.. Holding you close as I lift you and yours to the LORD in prayer.. ❤
Lifting up all whose hearts are heavy, prayerful you feel His presence today..❤
Presence, provisions, promises. What joy to have thrown my lot in with a God who provides. We are not promised the easy road, the genie in the lamp, the automatic end to our suffering. Instead, we are given blessed assurance that He is with us in all things, holding all things together for us. We can hand off our burdens, we can lift our eyes to the hills. May we feel the presence of God today!
God is my salvation
“The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
This is my God, and I will praise him.”
VICTORIA E – poor dear, sorry for your ongoing stomach issues. Praying
KARRIE – praying that your foot is healing up and the doctors can help you find relief for your bulging disk
KATIE PENFIELD – continued prayers for a kidney for your little boy
CHERYL BLOW – praying for Landry’s eye and your recovery
TAYLOR – continued prayers for your dad
AMIEE ROGERS – praying for the doctors to have insite to relieve your migraines
MIA FAITH – Keeping you in my prayers ❤️
AMANDA NOBLE – Lifting you up in prayers ❤️
TAYLOR GRAVES – Grateful you are here with us ❤️
TINA – Praying for uplifted spirits ❤️
ALYSSA (MARI V) – Praying for wisdom and guidance
FOSTER MAMA – Praying for rest and refreshment
RHONDA – Praying for your marriage
LAURA DIANNE – Praying for your marriage and relationship with your daughter
MERCY – Praying for you and your husband
ERB – Good to see you ❤️
SHARON – Congratulations, grandma!
CHERYL BLOW – Praying for a quick recovery
VICTORIA E – Praying for healing of your stomach pain
I am happy to be back after two weeks, I missed you all! I’m trying to keep up with the prayer requests.
We have a God that IS!
Omnipresent. Never-changing. Always faithful. Perfectly just. Endlessly loving.
As MICHELLE said yesterday: “God’s ways are too high to comprehend”.
Will I ever fully grasp this?
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Dear Father,
Thank You for Who You Are.
For going with us wherever we go. For being patient with us. For keeping Your promises. For providing us with all we need. And above all, for calling us ‘Yours’ and letting us call You ‘mine’.
We can trust that You know and give what is best for us. You will lead us through this life.
May we rest in Your presence today.
AMEN.
His presence, provision, and promises are everywhere in this story. He was there, constantly providing for His people, whether defeating their enemies, sending manna and quail to nourish them, literally lighting their way, and more. He faithfully kept His promises to Moses..
..To those that came after Moses long ago…
..To those that I know through stories told…
..To those who told the stories…
..To those who held my hand..
..To those whose hand I held and those whose hand I hold now..
..To those who read His Word then and now..
..To those who don’t..
He faithfully keeps His promises to us, one and ALL..
The road has never been easy, not will it be whilst we have sin, or temptations..
BUT GOD..
He gives us promises of rest, pockets of provision to see us through, He promises to make the burden light,
His presence, like a letter from home..
While writing I felt to listen to a song I had not heard until last week, recommended by DEB.. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.. I can feel His mighty power and His grace.. ooh..
I am moved by this song and the words..as I insert my troubles in place of ‘in this place’
Surely the presence of the Lord is in My troubles, my brokenness, my heartache.. my joy, my victory, my Hope..
He is where He says He will be.. Forever close, whatever the journey, wherever we roam, however we do life.. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place..
Holy. Holy. Holy..
Amen and Hallelujah!
Happy Tuesday dear hearts..❤
@Tina-❤️
FOSTER MAMA.. YOU GOT ME! ❤️
I just wrote a lengthy message to all of you and thinking it would be nice for @ TINA to find a comment already logged when she does her reading — it disappeared:(
So sleepy now and headed to bed (praying for @ VICTORIA E and all with body nuisances to get a good night’s rest)
For now, all I’ll say is:
❤️ MIA FAITH
❤️ AMANDA NOBLE
❤️ MERCY (I didn’t know you were on this side of the border!) had a lovely idea re: Go Fund Me…any thoughts from others if we can help Amanda over this bump?!
Thank you for each of you who has reached out to me by name (God bless you ❤️) and verbalized prayers.
I’m again in a season of rarely getting to read each comment or missing full days of comments altogether (then being sad / embarrassed in case I missed an update).
Will write more specifics later, I hope….
Love to all ❤️ Grateful for you.