Go With Us — A poem of stiff-necked people

Introduction
“Lord,” he says, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”
We find Moses on top of Mount Sinai, begging God for mercy. What has brought him to this dire state? In Exodus 25–31, Moses meets with God on Mount Sinai. God was giving Moses the stone tablets containing the law and commandments. In Exodus 32, the Israelites believed Moses was dead because he had been on top of the mountain for forty days. They believed Yahweh had abandoned them and begin worshipping other gods. Yahweh was furious at this and declared he would wipeout the people of Israel. Moses pleads with God to have mercy, and he relents. Moses descended the mountain, melted the golden calf, and had about three thousand Israelites killed.
After this, in Exodus 33, Moses meets with God in the tent of meeting. God commands the people of Israel to leave Mount Sinai but says he will not go with them because they are a stiff-necked people, and he will destroy them. Once again Moses pleads with God, saying, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” God is pleased and does as Moses’ ask.
Finally, we come to Exodus 34, where we again find Moses on top of Mount Sinai with God receiving the stone tablets he destroyed. God shows a glimpse of his glory to Moses, who responds by falling to the ground in worship. This brings us to verse nine, where we see Moses asking for God’s forgiveness and presence.
Go With Us
Lord,
lead us.
Go with us
and before us.
Do not forsake us
or turn away from us.
So everyone will know us
by your holy presence with us.
Out of the nations, you have called us,
and you have given a new name to us,
so that we may be sanctified for you.
We a stiff-necked people forsook you
and worshipped other gods but you.
Forgive our sins against you.
We long to worship you
and draw near to you.
Worthy are you!
Great are you!
Praise you,
Lord!
Wrap-up
There is nothing new under the sun. We, God’s people today, are not dissimilar to the Israelites in Exodus. We experience God’s power in our lives, our crossing of the Red Sea, if you will, yet we quickly turn to idols. When Moses saw a glimpse of God’s glory, his response was worship and asking for forgiveness. Moses realized how holy God is and how holy he was not.
Spending time with God will similarly affect us. Are there idols you have been worshipping instead of God? Do you want for God’s presence to be with you? Do you worship God for his holiness?
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