God, are you with me?

Questioning God’s Presence

     Have you ever questioned something unclear to you when the answer was so obvious to those around you? Here’s an example: Jenny was interested in John romantically but was unsure if he felt the same way about her. When she asked her friends for advice, they told her they thought she would be great with John; unfortunately, it was apparent to them that John only had eyes for Kathy. On the flipside, when Kathy asked her friends if they thought John was interested in her, they emphatically replied, “Are you blind? John is in love with you!” In both specific circumstances, the truth is crystal clear to others while not so certain to Jenny or Kathy.

     We can be unsure about a lot of things, not just relationships. We can find ourselves asking, “What job would be a good fit?” “Should I go on that expensive trip?” “I was tempted with ____ at this event before, should I go again?” To us, we have a dilemma. To those who know us, sometimes it’s not even a question. This is not to downplay those times in life when we are really wrestling with something and only God could possibly know the right course for us to take. Making big life decisions can be extremely stressful. That’s why it is so important to have a good foundation and know who we can place our trust in. However, to get there, sometimes we must embrace doubt and ask the questions on our mind. The Israelites sure did.

He Protects and Provides

     The events recorded in Exodus are beyond amazing. God sent ten plagues on Egypt to demonstrate his power over all the false God’s the Egyptians were worshiping. In some instances, the Bible specifically states that while all of Egypt was dealing with one horrific plague after another, Goshen, the region the Israelites lived in, was completely untouched. “Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail” (Exodus 9:26), “… I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land” (Exodus 8:22).

      When Pharoh finally let his Israelite slaves go, the Egyptians freely gave them silver and gold because God had caused the Egyptians to fear Him and favor the Israelites. When the Israelites were finally free and in the desert, the Bible says God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Furthermore, when the Egyptians came after them in the desert, God literally parted the Red Sea (the sea!), so the Israelites could safely escape. He confused the Egyptians, jammed their chariot wheels, and killed all the Egyptians with the sea at just the right moment. The Israelites were safe. They didn’t have to raise one finger in battle. They just had to obey God and walk the path He laid before them.

No Question Surprises God

     God’s miraculous provision continues by literally raining down on the Israelites. When God’s people cried to God because of hunger, He rained down bread and meat for them from heaven! With the price of food today, can you imagine loaves of bread and rotisserie chicken raining down from heaven? There was no grocery store in the desert. God was provider of all. Yet, when the people started to get thirsty and uncomfortable again, they asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7). When I read those words in the Bible, I want to reach in through time, shake the Israelites by the shoulders, and say, “Are you kidding me? Look at everything God did for you! Of course, He is with you! Of course, He cares for you,” but then I look at myself. How many times have I forgotten all God has done for me in the past, all he has provided? How many times have I questioned God’s presence in my life, especially during suffering? How many times throughout my life have I asked these very questions: “I need a job, Lord, will you provide?” “My loved one has died; do you still care?” “I am so afraid; do you hear me?” “I am lonely; are you still there?” “I feel sadness, brokenness, betrayal, all these things … Lord, do you love me?” “Lord, are you with me or not?” No matter what my circumstances are or how I feel, God promises he is still with me: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

The Choice Lays Before You

     He is also with you. The thing is, though, he only remains with you if you want him. At some point, we must choose. God is so holy, powerful, and incredible, and we are all so far from holy. We need to understand that, whether we like it or not, there is a divide between us and God we cannot cross. We need Jesus. Jesus is the perfect bridge. He lived the perfect life and overcame this world, overcame death. When we admit we are far from perfect and have made many mistakes, ask forgiveness, and invite Jesus into our lives, our old self dies. We are made new. When God looks at us, he doesn’t see our mess anymore, he sees Jesus. He sees holiness. Regardless of this incredible gift, we must choose if this is what we want.

     God answered the Israelite’s question - “Lord, are you among us or not?” He replied to them, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Exodus 19:4). God was telling the Israelites to remember what they had already forgotten!

     God’s invitation to the Israelite’s was this: “… if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The Israelite’s did not have to accept this invitation. They had a choice.

     The Israelites chose God. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So, Moses brought their answer back to the Lord (Exodus 19:8). God was with the Israelites, and He made them holy. Unfortunately, there were a multitude of moments afterwards where the Israelites continued to doubt, went their own way, and turned their backs on God. Not the best example to follow. Nonetheless, God has stayed true to His promise. He was with his people then, and He is still with His people today, no matter what.

It’s Time to Start Going Forward

     If you already call Jesus your Savior, maybe it’s time to start recording and remembering all the ways the Lord has provided for you and your family and come back repeatedly to your own personal testimony of God’s goodness. It’s too easy to forget. Maybe it’s time to read the whole Bible and remember the thousands of promises the King has given and everything he has already done. It’s too easy to lose sight of what’s important.

     If you haven’t made your choice about Jesus yet, maybe it’s time to start directly asking God some questions and expecting some answers. He can handle the questions that may seem to have an obvious answer, and he can handle the questions no one ever seems to have a satisfactory answer for. If you seek him, you will find him as Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” That’s a promise, and as you have heard, God keeps his promises.