Same Presence, two different realities

Morning by Morning devotion is inspired by the scripture in Isaiah 50:4  "The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned."  There are many treasures found in His word and I've decided to spend some time with Him so that He may teach me. In our devotion this morning, we're going to look at three different passages of scripture where God's presence produced two different realities as we seek to find out why? 

1. In Exodus 14:19-20   "And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.  20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night."  we see a very interesting miracle. The same pillar of cloud produced utter darkness to the Egyptians and pure light to the Israelites. The pillar that is later associated with the Lord Himself (Exodus 33:9-11), became two realities - a curse to the pursuing Egyptians and a blessing to the entrapped Israelites. 

2. The same thing later played out with the Philistines and the Israelites.  1 Samuel 5:6-7 "...the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.  7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god."  This same ark that was a blessing to the Israelites and anyone who had it like Obed-edom in 2 Samuel 6:11 became a curse to the Philistines. 

3. Finally in Luke 20:17-18  " Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone'?  18 "Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  Jesus speaking on Himself as being the stone, relays the two different realities that would befall those who relate to Him. Anyone who goes against the stone will be destroyed. The opposite is equally true; anyone who loves the stone will experience brokenness that will actually make them better.

The last passage helps us understand why the same presence will produce two different results. It's the motive that one has towards the Lord. If you are alligned to His will and purposes, you're safe. However, if you're out to make a name for yourself and use God's presence to achieve your own agendas, then that same presence will work against you. Which side will you pick?