How can you tell that God is really with you? That is exactly what Moses asked after the disaster of the golden calf, when he heard that the people would enter the promised land but God would not go with them (Exodus 33). This sermon, closing two months of reading Exodus, points to the three places where God promised to meet his people, the law, the tabernacle and the sabbath, and to how all three are fulfilled in Jesus. Listen if you are looking for a measure by which to order your own life.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In Exodus 33 God tells the Israelites they may go to the promised land, but He Himself will not go among them. Why was this announcement so painful for the people after the golden calf?
- Moses asks: how will anyone know that we have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? What does this question reveal about what Moses was really seeking?
- The speaker pointed to three places where God met with Israel: the law, the tabernacle at the center of the camp, and the Sabbath. Which of these speaks to you most, and why?
- The sermon presented Jesus as the fulfillment of the law, the temple and the Sabbath, and in John's Gospel He speaks of the temple of His body. How does this shape your understanding of God's presence today?
- The speaker explained that the word religion means to bind back together, while the cowboy story showed a faith that doesn't change behavior. Where do you see the difference between religiosity and living in God's presence?
- The Israelites arranged their whole camp around the tabernacle. What specifically can you rearrange this week in your time, decisions or places so that God is at the center?
