Exodus 19:9-28 God's Otherness

God spoke with Moses personally!  They were at Mt. Sinai, about to receive His words, and God told them that "staying away from the mountain was a matter of life or death, for the presence of God sanctified the mountain ... In a dramatic way, God was teaching the people the distance between a holy God and sinful men and women, as well as the danger of presumptuously rushing into the presence of the Lord ... The structure of Old Testament worship emphasized man's sinfulness and God's otherness ... The emphasis was always 'Keep Your Distance!'  But the New Testament emphasizes the nearness of God, for the Son of God became flesh and came to dwell on earth and His name is Immanuel -- God with us."

Father, I understand much more about Your "otherness" than I once did, and how we don't dare approach You on the basis of our own merits.  Thank You for giving Your Son so that we can draw close to You!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford