“And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name” (Exodus 33:17).

Moses had a problem. He knew that God had commissioned him to “bring up this people” (v.12), but he didn’t know who God would send with him to be a guide along the way (v.12). He even prayed, “show me now thy way” (v.13).

God’s answer was immediate and direct. “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (v.14). In other words, the Lord was telling Moses that by His very presence He would lead the people of God. Direction would come by the personal presence of God Himself. Moses was quick to respond. “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence” (v.15).

God responded to Moses’ request and gave him the graciousness of His personal presence. Moses stated: “For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?” (v.16).

The word “grace” is found five times in verses twelve through seventeen and refers to the undeserved nearness of God to both Moses and his people.

Believers today share in this same grace. The word declares: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27); “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23); “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5); “The Lord is at hand [nearby]” (Philippians 4:5). “When He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them” (John 10:4).

It would be good for us to practice the presence of God in our daily walk with Christ. He is constantly with us and even knows us personally by name! NPS