Experiencing God's Presence #91

I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence.

Exodus 29:43

The Tabernacle was a meeting place, a designated rendezvous between God and His people. We know it wasn’t the final dwelling place of God on earth; His Presence fills us in deeper and fuller ways today. But for that era, His Presence was a concrete experience for those who would come to that specific place. Compared to captivity in Egypt and God’s apparent absence in that era, this was deep intimacy.

But compared to what’s available to us today, the Tabernacle experience was a sporadic encounter. For people like Moses and Joshua it was more, but average Israelites only got to witness God’s relationship with their leaders and hear of divine conversations secondhand. They saw God’s Presence without entering into it personally. In fact, on one occasion they pleaded with Moses to converse with God for them; they were afraid and wanted to keep Him at arm’s length. They considered a personal encounter with God to be too intense.

We have the same option. Do we want to enter into God’s Presence personally or let others—either past characters of Scripture or present spiritual adventurers—encounter Him on our behalf? Many people unconsciously choose distance because a personal encounter with God might be too intense. A face-to-face experience comes with high accountability and a strong sense of mission. One option is easier, the other more rewarding.

Choose intensity. The Tabernacle—in this case your body and your community of believers—will be set apart and made sacred by the glorious Presence. Meeting with God may be challenging, but it’s much better than the alternative. Never neglect the privilege of Presence that has been offered.

Lord, I don’t want to miss a single opportunity to experience You in any area of life. Open my eyes to holy moments and places of divine rendezvous.

From the book