Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15.
“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’” Isaiah 41:13.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
But you, who do you say that I AM? Have you been with Me all this time and still do not know Me?
Moses was curious to know Me. Abraham just always felt he knew Me. When I first spoke to him, he followed. I told him leave your kinsfolk and place of abode, and off he went without even knowing where he was going. He just knew I told him I would BLESS him. And he trusted that. He had fellowship with Me and he was fully persuaded I would be with him and supply all that he needed and more. He would not even take a shoelace from the king of Sodom no matter how many riches he offered Abraham for Abraham knew who his source was, Me, God Almighty Himself, El Shaddai.
But Moses asked My Name, he questioned how he could go and do what I told him was My plan for him, in fact he told Me all the reasons he could think of that disqualified him, he asked to see My glory, he asked Me to be with him and go across the wilderness with him, he was always seeking a deeper relationship with me. And I gave him all he asked. I called him My friend. He was hungry to know My Ways, to hear My voice, and to be with Me. And I did great and mighty works with Moses. To him I revealed My Name and I showed him My goodness. No one else ever asked Me to describe Myself, to show My glory, and to be constantly with them. Moses always wanted to go deeper with Me and consequently I opened to him the cloud of My presence and let him abide therein forty glorious days and forty glorious nights. And it seemed like no time at all to Moses. He never hungered or thirsted for necessary food because I supplied all in the light of My presence.
Do not worry about tomorrow, what you shall eat or drink or wear. Moses did not for forty days and forty nights and then for forty years. The Israelites I redeemed from slavery in Egypt by mighty works, authorized and released in the earth by Moses, refused to enter the Promised Land for fear that My promises would not come to pass therein, but even though they had spurned Me in that, I had compassion and the Israelites lacked nothing to sustain and maintain them in a barren wilderness for forty years. I fed them manna from Heaven, quail from the four winds, gave them water gushing out of rocks, and their clothes and shoes did not wear out, and they were laden with silver and gold, jewels and garments from Egypt. And for you who believe in My Son and have trusted in My goodness, I will do MUCH MORE than that. Why are you so fearful of things to come?
The Israelites did not trust Me because though they had seen My mighty works, which they found awesome, they never understood My ways, in other words, they never had a revelation of who I was and did not believe that I am merciful, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness. They never wanted to draw close to Me so I could draw close to them. Just as when I spoke to them from the mountain of Sinai, they kept their distance and told Moses to go talk with Me and then just tell them what I said.
Have you been like that? Asking others to get a Word for you from Me? Asking others to pray and intercede for you? Asking others to have faith for you? Moses carried the people but at times he found it wearing that they did not also pick up the slack. He continually had to intercede for them and seek healing and provision for them. Why? They never matured spiritually. And the main thing that kept them back was not knowing who I AM. When you know Me, all things become possible to you, but above all, you have found joy unspeakable and full of glory, for you are not complete until you enter into the cloud of My presence and in My presence, there is fullness of joy. I will bring you to My holy mountain, to My dwelling place above the heights, and make you joyful in My house of prayer. Prayer should be for you a delightful time of fellowship, revelation, and vision.
There is one man only that I call a man after My own heart. It is David. Why? Many wonder for he sinned and he was a man of battle. But I told you why when I told Samuel why. I do not judge by outward appearance, I look at the heart. And there was never a heart for Me as there was in David. His delight, love, worship, and understanding of Me exceeds the insight of most into these matters, but you who have been born again and have new hearts of love are of that stature if you care to go deeper with Me. You are all children after My own heart now. But do you think of prayer as David did? He delighted being in My presence, for it was there he found refuge, there he remained in peace in time of trouble, there he learned battle strategy, wisdom to rule, and the secrets of life abundant. Listen to his inspired thoughts on this: “Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O Lord, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” Psalm 36:5-10.
He called Me his Shepherd, his rock, his fortress, his refuge, his deliverer, his delight, his teacher, his guide, his savior, and the one who trained his hands for battle and gave him strength and wisdom beyond his teachers. David before Jesus had come and told you that He is the good Shepherd who leads you, calls you, protects you, and saves you, had found this secret, for right after the psalm he sang in prophecy of My Son’s death on the cross (Psalm 22, which Jesus recited on the Cross), he sang of the great Shepherd of the sheep, Psalm 23. “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside restful waters of peace. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This Psalm helps you to know who I am to you and who you are to Me. Because you have loved Me, therefore I will deliver you; I will set you securely on high, because you have known My name. When you call upon Me, and I will answer you; I will be with you in trouble; I will rescue you and honor you and with long life I will satisfy you and show you My salvation. Psalm 91:14-16.
Stop seeing Me at a distance as someone you have to approach with caution to find favor. Stop trying to just be a servant in My house and know you are My child. Stop acting like I might hurt you when I am only trying to help you. Do you still not know Me? I am love. There is no fear in love, perfect love casts out all fear. Know and believe in the love I have for you and the love I am in you. I have given you all I have and you are with Me always. I will NEVER leave you or forsake you and I have imputed all you ever did that was wrong onto Christ. Get to know Me, fall in love with Me, and you will have the time of your life. And it will never end.
I love you. I am for you, not against you, for I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13. Really, there is one thing necessary and all else flows from that. Do you know what it is? It all begins with a relationship and it results in a Kingdom.