The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
1 When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.
God’s Presence is everything that you need. Everything that your heart desires is in the Presence of God. The fullness of God, as in His Person and power and wisdom, is all in His Presence. God’s Presence is rich in glory, splendour and mercy. The way of life is in His Presence. The reason Israel was lost and wasted in the wilderness is because they did not know God’s ways. Moses knew God’s ways, but the children of Israel knew His acts. They did always err in their hearts and did not know His ways. The ways of God are in His Presence. Moses was a man of God’s Presence, little wonder he knew His ways. The children of Israel wanted God’s blessings, but really were not interested in His Presence. They did not choose to know God. They just wanted His miracles. They did not want to walk with Him in mutual understanding of Him in the light of His ways. God expected them to draw near unto Him, but at every appearance of God they withdrew from Him. However, Moses and Joshua drew near unto the Lord. They missed out on the big deal. The manna they ate was not the big deal. All the miracles they saw in Egypt and in the wilderness was not the big deal. The Presence of God was the big deal, but they missed it. What a pity!
The Presence of God brings prosperity. Today’s opening Scripture tells us that it was the Presence of God with Joseph that caused him to prosper even as a slave in a strange land. 2 Samuel 6:11-12 tells us how Obededom experienced tremendous prosperity because the ark of God, the symbol of God’s Presence in the Old Testament, stayed in his house for three months. The Presence of God is a defence and gives victory against opposition. Psalms 114 shows us that it was the Presence of God with the children of Israel that gave them victory over every opposition. Moses, knowing the importance of God’s Presence prayed in Exodus 33:15, “If Your Presence will not go with us, take us no further.” The Lord told him that His Presence would go with them, and He would give them rest. Rest comes by the Presence of God. Beloved, let the Presence of God invade your life as you learn to minister to the Lord in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; and honour Him by honouring His Word. Hallelujah!!!
My Solid Front (Confession):
Thank You Heavenly Father, for Your Presence with me. I declare that I experience tremendous prosperity, I experience protection, and I experience rest round about me in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Meditation: Isaiah 59:19; Acts 10:38.