Motivation Morsel - August 18, 2026

Exodus 33:¹² Moshe said to Adonai, “Look, you say to me, ‘Make these people move on!’ But you haven’t let me know whom you will be sending with me. Nevertheless you have said, ‘I know you by name,’ and also, ‘You have found favor in my sight.’ ¹³ Now, please, if it is really the case that I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways; so that I will understand you and continue finding favor in your sight. Moreover, keep on seeing this nation as your people.” ¹⁴ He answered, “Set your mind at rest —¹⁴ He answered, “Set your mind at rest — my presence will go with you, after all.” ¹⁵ Moshe replied, “If your presence doesn’t go with us, don’t make us go on from here. ¹⁶ For how else is it to be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, other than by your going with us? That is what distinguishes us, me and your people, from all the other peoples on earth.”

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⁴⁰ They arose early the next morning, came up to the top of the mountain and said, “Here we are, and we did sin, but now we’ll go up to the place Adonai promised.” ⁴¹ Moshe answered, “Why are you opposing what Adonai said? You won’t succeed! ⁴² Don’t go up there, because Adonai isn’t with you. If you do, your enemies will defeat you.

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Revisiting Numbers where Israel chooses not to follow the instructions to go into Canaan (the Promised Land) and the Most High banishes them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness, we find that the Israelites did not learn the lesson. They said, “Sorry, we are ready now!” They tried to go without G-d thinking it was going to work, and failed miserably! When the Most High has an appointed time and plan, He expects us to move in that time and space, that is faith. Faith is believing the impossible and taking the steps toward it just because G-d said it - not because we can visualize (see) it or reason (think) it through in our humanness. If we can use our senses and mind then what would be the need for us to call on the Most High as we go!

If we rewind to Exodus 33:15, we see the right posture before the true and living G-d when we face unknown and uncharted territory and are sent by G-d into His promises for us. It can be scary and filled with lots of thoughts: What about this? How can I do that? But what if? When will? Who is? And that is the beauty of being in relationship with the Most High. He welcomes the questions; that is the basis of an intimate relationship, getting to know each other and how to walk together in harmony. Moses when faced with moving the people of G-d forward, after the Golden Calf and the breaking of the covenant with G-d in Exodus 32, had lots of fears and questions about the next step and he went to the only one with the answer, The Most High G-d! He went so far as to say in verse 15, “If your presence doesn’t go with us, don’t make us go on from here.” You can feel the anguish and trepidation in Moses’s reply to the Father. Please G-d don’t make us go without you. If you read verse 14, you would think Moses missed that the Most High had said He would go with them but that is not the case. Like Moses, we need to keep asking the Most High who welcomes us coming to Him for clarity, reassurance, affirmation, and strength to move forward especially after major setbacks. In fact, the Most High expects that from His children. He wants us to succeed. He knows we will fail before we do! Repentance was given for that very reason. They had the tent of meeting back then where they could go to G-d for direction, instruction, and guidance. Today, Holy Spirit lives in us, and because of the Messiah, we can go boldly to the throne of grace and seek forgiveness and mercy (cf. Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; John 14:16-17; 2 Timothy 1:14; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 1:9).

Now fast forward back to Numbers 14, where the Israelites refused to believe Joshua and Caleb’s report. Instead of saying Moses, we messed up, please go back to the Father and intercede on our behalf and ask Him for another chance, they continued to walk in their own thoughts. They are less than two years old in their freedom from Egypt, and they thought they could go without G-d. Isn’t that like the mind of most toddlers who have learned to walk now and think they can go wherever their little feet can take them. Their minds don’t factor in the dangers that exist or the possibility of falling if not careful, hence the need of the parental guidance and support. That is what we see with the Israelites, with disobedient toddler-like behavior, thinking a sorry and we are ready now without asking the parent for direction is alright. No, it is not. Yes, the people changed their minds and tried to fight the Canaanites without G-d’s help, acting on their own, but Moses told them their attack would fail because they had abandoned G-d's plan. Still disobediently, they went anyway and were utterly defeated.

There are so many lessons to learn from these passages:

• When the Most High gives instructions and tells us to do something, do it knowing He has a plan for success.

• Not obeying G-d could cause us to wander for years and can even cause death physically or spiritually to the promised place.

• If He lets you live and brings you back to the place you failed Him, (see yesterday’s post), REPENT, thank Him for another chance, and ask Him HOW to move forward.

• The posture after failure is ask, ask, ask, ask as many times and ways as needed to know He is with you and leading you.

• Not asking for the way forward, can and will end up in utter defeat again.

  
  

The Israelites learned that brutal lesson, so we do not need to repeat their mistakes AGAIN!

And yes, one more time, the Most High wants us to succeed, He wants us to prosper. He has great things in store for those of us who love Him. Even when we fail, He can turn it for our good when we confess our sins and allow Him to work even our mess ups, failures, and mistakes for our good, because we love Him and are called according to His purposes (cf. Romans 8:28-29). I feel excitement in my spirit for those who take this and run with it to the arms of the Father today for renewed instructions and directions forward! I believe I hear Him say, “He will return what has been lost if you trust Me!” Seek Him now while He can be found!

Holy Spirit has spoken so I close with Happy Tuesday, Family. G-d loves you, and so do I.

Grace and Peace Beloved❤️