My heart's desire

When Moses remained up on Mount Sinai longer than expected, the people of Israel decided it was time to switch horses and find a god better suited to their tastes.

While Moses was basking in God’s presence, the people built a calf out of their own melted jewelry and began worshipping it. For those Israelites, Moses represented God’s presence. They certainly didn’t feel that presence when Moses was gone.

They suspected he was dead. He wasn’t expected to be away for 40 days and so they turned to their own designs.

Like the Israelites, we have a desire for God’s presence.

Newsboys have a song, Presence (My Heart’s Desire), which has some great lyrics on this desire for divine presence:

I lift up my voice
to The King, The King of glory
I hold out my hands
to The One who is worthy
I long for Your presence
I long, Lord, I need Your touch

Come, oh Lord, and fill up my life
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart's desire
oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
this is my heart's desire

I long to be washed
in the well of Your mercy
I long to be warmed
by the fire of Your glory
I long for Your presence
I long for Your healing touch

The Israelites had some similar longings. They had been surrounded by the multitude of gods in Egypt. They had only a vague understanding of the one true God and very little perception of his constancy. So they trusted their own understanding. They thought God had abandoned them – maybe even taken Moses from them. They understood gods. So they built one.

We, like those ancients, want God’s presence. Our heart’s desire is to feel his mercy and healing touch. We, too, are surrounded by a multitude of gods. Many believe in the god of entertainment or the god of convenience or the god of stuff (if I have enough possessions, I’ll finally be fulfilled. Or my garage will be filled.)

The Israelites longed for God’s presence but settled for an empty substitute.

It’s not always easy to stand when others are rushing to gods of their own understanding, but it’s the difference between trying to be warmed by a photograph of a fire or by a blazing bonfire.

There’s just no substitute for presence.

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Ex 33:14