God told Moses, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will announce my name, the Lord, so you can hear it’ (v.19 NCV). But because (as verse 20 tells us) nobody could look into God’s face directly and live, He said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand.’ Moses had to be in the right place before he could receive the promised blessing of seeing God. God loves to bless us, but He won’t reward sin and disobedience. If He’s told us that He wants us in a certain place, doing a certain task, we should be guided by His will. The Prodigal Son chose to leave his father’s house, a place where he had everything he needed. There are three reasons why he made that choice: 1) He wanted his father’s blessing, but not his authority. Jesus said, ‘Why do you call me, “Lord”…and do not do what I say?’ (Luke 6:46 NIV). 2) He took his father’s blessings for granted. God warned the Israelites: ‘Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you…out of…slavery’ (Deuteronomy 6:12 NIV). 3) He didn’t know the risks waiting for him. As a result of leaving his father’s house at the wrong time, he lost everything he had. The path that takes us away from God might begin with pleasure, but it always ends with pain. But ‘those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NCV). We need to get in the right place ­– by God’s side. It doesn’t mean we’ll automatically receive the blessings we want or when we expect, but let’s keep in mind what a privilege and a blessing it is to be able to walk closely with our amazing God.

What Now?

Have a check in with God to make sure you’re on the path He wants you to follow. If you’ve wandered away from it, ask Him to show you what you need to adjust in your life to get back on track.