God's Presence

In Exodus 33, God told Israel to go on into the Land of Milk and Honey and He would send an angel ahead of them to fight for them but that He would not go with them for they were a stiff neck people. 

Moses pleaded stop it the Lord saying, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." (Ex 33:15).  Moses knew that the angel could defeat the armies they would face and he was certain of their success in taking possession of the land. But  he also knew that success without the presence of the Lord was hollow.

Moses wanted no part of nation building without God's presence for he knew that even a Pharoah could lose all he had apart from God's blessing. He knew that "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain" (Ps 127:1).

Limited or short-term success can be found apart from God. Evil people often seem to be on top of the world.  Despite their godlessness, "the arrogant are blessed and evil doers prosper" (Mal 3:15).  However, the day comes when God shows "the distinction between the righteous and the wicked" (Mal 3:18).

Although we may find success and prosperity apart from the Lord, what we will not find is His blessings. And in the long run, a branch cannot grow apart from its vine. As Jesus put it, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).

Success is alluring, prosperity inviting but neither can provide the eternal blessings that are God's alone. At the end of the day, the rich and famous will be poor and nameless occupants of hell unless God dwells in their hearts and gives life to their spirits. Jus' Sayn.