God had told Moses that he would send an angel before the people as they battle their way into the Promised Land.[i] Most of us would be elated to have a commanding angel marching out in front of us! Evidently, Moses wasn’t satisfied. While an angel would be splendid, he wanted something (Someone) much more. How could he be content with an angel when he could have God himself lead them into victory?

If it came down to it, unless God himself went with them, Moses wasn’t going. He’d rather be in the wilderness with God than in the Promised Land without him. Like Mary, the fearless leader of Israel refused to settle for less than God’s unmistakable and ineffable presence.

Though thirteen centuries apart, Moses and Mary possessed the same adamant drive for nothing less than God’s presence. More than answers to their prayers, they sought the Onewith all the answers.“The desire to find God,” says Thomas Merton, “to see Him and to love Him is the one thing that matters.”[ii] How often do we seek God because he’s useful to us in times of need? He heals us, provides for us, rescues us in danger. But he’s much, much more than useful, he’s beautiful, and the source of all beauty. It’s his glorious presence that brother Moses and sister Mary sought.

[This is an excerpt of my book: Missional, Merciful, Worshipful Christians. If you purchase it at whatever price you choose, you will benefit an absolutely necessary ministry in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. If you don’t want the book, you can go directly to their website and donate to their campaign to pay off their facilities.]

[i] Exodus 33:2

[ii] Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation, 77.