J O H N W. M O O R E
GOD'S PRESENCE: A MOTIF IN THE LIFE OF ISRAEL
God's presence is a recurrent theme in the life of Israel. In the early life of this nation, His presence burst forth on the scene with the deliverance from Egypt. His presence in the cloud led them through the wilderness. According to Exodus 13:22, this cloud did not depart "from before the people," but guided them to the land of promise. In Nehemiah 9:19, the lasting presence of God in the cloud is reiterated. (cf. Num. 9:15-23) Upon Mount Horeb they are reassured of God's presence by the promise that "in all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." (Ex. 20:24) In Exodus 25:8, we learn of commands to build a sanctuary so that the Lord would "dwell in their midst," thus, a traveling sanctuary of God's presence. Later, the promise of His continual presence is made, as Israel would meet with the Lord at the door of the tent. (Ex. 29:42) In Exodus 29:46, they learn that God brought them out of the land of Egypt so that he "might dwell among them." In Exodus 40:38, we read that "the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys." God's leading and dwelling presence was central to the early life of Israel.
During the conquest, the motif continues as God is with Joshua, like He was with Moses (Josh. 1:5). He is with him wherever he goes (Josh. 1:9). Though during the difficult times of the judges and its era of spiritual depravity, Gideon was told that God was with him. (Jdgs. 6:12) Upon completion of the temple by Solomon, it is recorded that "the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord." (I Kings 8:11) His presence was so immense "that the priest could not stand to minister because of the cloud."
Among the prophets, the presence of God was central to their calling, message, warning of captivity, and warning of divine departure from among Israel (Isa. 6:1-5; 8:18; 30:27-29; 31:9; Jer. 7:12-15; 8:19; 14:9; Ezek. 8:6; Hosea 5:15; 11:9,11; Amos 1:2; 5:14; Micah 1:2,3; 3:11; 6:6). Even during captivity God would be to His people "a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall go." (Ezek. 11:16) Prophetic concerns for God's presence were envisioned in a valley of dry bones, where the placing of God's sanctuary "in the midst of them forevermore" was promised. (Ezek. 37:26-28) See also Ezekiel 43:1-7; 44:1-2; and 48:35.
God's Presence: The Motif Continued
Not only is the theme of God's presence prevalent in the life of Israel but it is clearly delineated in the New Testament as well. In the Gospel according to Matthew (1:21), God's presence is said to be "with us" in the bodily form of Jesus Christ. This incarnation is also discussed in John 1:1, 14, where it is said that God "was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory . . . ." Like the Israelites who beheld the presence of God manifested in the cloud of fire, the apostle John and others were also privileged to have God in their midst. He took on a bodily form, but within all fullness of deity dwelt. They saw for themselves His leading presence as the Good Shepherd and Master. (John 10:11) They experienced His protection in the midst of the raging sea. (Mark 4) As a result, they came to fear him (Mark 4:41) just like Israel feared Yahweh in Exodus 14. His presence was also convincing in that many believed on him. (John 2:23; 4:39; 7:21; etc.) He truly brought joy and hope to a people enslaved to sin.
The Lord's continual presence was then promised in the form of the Holy Spirit. He would not leave His followers destitute, for the spirit of truth would come and comfort the apostles by guiding them into all the truth (John 14:18; 16:13). His promise of presence would again be made just shortly before His ascension, when He said, "And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:20)
Finally, the motif extends throughout eternity as the apostle John, in Revelation 21, reveals the holy city in all its splendor. God's tabernacle is viewed as being with men, like as his tabernacle rested within the tribes of Israel as they camped. We are told in Revelation 21:3 that He will dwell with His people. The inhabitants of heaven will be protected and sheltered by God, and they will see His face (Rev. 22:4). God will sustain their every need (Rev. 22:1-6) as He did the Israelites in the wilderness.
In Exodus 13, we learn much about God: how He deals with His people; how He deals with those who oppress His children; His love; His power; His glory; but most of all, we learn about His presence. This divine presence is identified thirty-two times in either a personal pronoun or proper name. The emphasis is clearly upon God and His providential care for His people. It was the Lord that "saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians." (14:30) It was the Lord's guiding presence that would then continue to sustain them in the wilderness (Neh. 9:21). It is the Lord's presence which is of great concern for Israel (17:7) and for believers today. It is a thread woven throughout the great tapestry of Scripture: a thread that holds great meaning for believers of all dispensations. Truly, God is not far from any one of us, but it is "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28) - a marvelous comfort for the church, spiritual Israel.
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