1. Go up--but without God (1-3)

God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob on oath to give the good land of Canaan to their descendants. God keeps his promises. He would give them the land and all of its material blessings, but he would not go with them. He would send his angel to drive out the Canaanites, but he would not give them the spiritual blessing of his own presence with them.

2. The people were distressed (4-6)

Moses and the people knew that a land flowing with milk and honey could never be a happy place if God were not there. Material abundance does not satisfy the soul. Material wealth without God is no different from hell. It was God's presence with them that made them a special and blessed people. So the people stripped off their ornaments and mourned. They repented before God, and Moses would not leave that place until God had agreed to go with them.

Application: Lord, give us a value system with the right priority. Give me a humble heart--not a stiff neck. Come and dwell with us.
One Word: There is no good life without God