THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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HI!
A Sunday School teacher was explaining to the four- and five-year-old class about the building of the temple in the Old Testament. She explained that when the temple was completed, God filled it with His presence. Instantly, the eyes of each student widened and they became excited.
The teacher soon discovered, however, that the source of their excitement wass not joy that God had come to dwell in the temple, but delight at imagining that huge building filled with presents from God!
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Gen 35:9-15
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him.
10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
KJV
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Sometimes, I'm afraid, we are like those children. We are more concerned with presents from God than we are with the presence of God.
God appeared to Jacob again. (This man received several visits from God!). God had appeared to Jacob in this place before. Notice the name used here: "God Almighty." In the Hebrew it is EL SHADDAI. He is the Almighty, All-Powerful God!
God again promised a great nation and kings as Jacob's descendents. God also promised the "land" to Jacob's descendents.
In verse 13, the intimation is that Jacob is left with FAITH. God made Himself known in physical manifestation. Now He withdrew that physical manifestation, and Jacob was left to continue in FAITH of God's continued SPIRITUAL presence.
Sometimes God manifests Himself in special manner in order to strengthen our faith. That is a present from God! However, as Christians, (saved, born-again people) we are never without the spiritual presence of God. Jacob called that place "Bethel," which means "house of God," or "sanctuary."
How long has it been since you really FELT the powerful PRESENCE of God? I believe this story teaches us that if we will draw close to God, He will draw close to us. And that is consistent with other Scripture ((See James 4:8)).
Today, you can practice closeness with the Almighty, All-Powerful God through prayer and worship. You can come into His "house," or "sanctuary" through Jesus Christ.
Love ya,
Bruce