God tells Moses to lead the people toward the promised land but warns that His presence will not go with them because of their stubbornness. The people mourn, removing their ornaments in grief. Obedience without intimacy is not enough. God’s presence is the true promise.

It reads in Exodus 33:1–6 Easy: Then the Lord said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land that I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I promised them that I would give that land to their descendants. So, I will send an angel to go before you, and I will defeat the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. I will force them to leave your land.So go to the land filled with many good things, but I will not go with you. You people are very stubborn. If I go with you, I might destroy you along the way.” The people heard this bad news and became very sad, so they stopped wearing jewelry. This was because the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stubborn people. I might destroy you even if I travel with you only a short time. So take off all your jewelry while I decide what to do with you.’” So, the Israelites stopped wearing their jewelry at Mount Horeb.

Father God, You call us forward, yet You ask us to listen and to humble our hearts before You. Teach us to walk in obedience, not by our strength, but by Your presence. Remove from us anything that stands between us and You, and lead us in the way You have prepared. We desire Your nearness above all else. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.