The Fearful God who Cares Greatly for Us

Exodus 3:4–8 (ESV) When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them...

This passage illustrates the adequate mindset for approaching God. He is to be feared as Moses will find out by taking off his sandals, standing on holy ground and hiding his face. We are to understand our God as a consuming fire even in the New Testament (see Hebrews 12:29). We are to enter into God's presence mindful of the fact that He is in heaven and we are on earth (See Eccl. 5:1). Ecclesiastes also reminds us to keep our words to a minimum and reverently approach Him.

Ecclesiastes 5:1–2 (ESV) Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

To flippantly refer to God as if He was anything less than Holy and awesome and beyond the wonder of our imaginations is to brazenly disrespect scriptures clear instructions. Many a great men fell on the faces in the presence of God. 

Yet, at the very same time. We see the God who deeply cares about His people. First, here in Exodus, God uses Moses' name twice, a semitic way of endearing the listener, letting them know how much one cares about another. Secondly, God's first words to Abraham after introductions are how His heart is moved for His people. We hear how much He desires to do for them the works He will accomplish on their behalf. 

God is the unapproachable approachable one. 

This is one of the many "both/ands" of scripture. Though we want clearly drawn lines, God is above them. He is beyond our silly definitions and systematic theological constructs. He is beyond our thoughts and emotions. Yet He reflects them to us in His Word in so many ways. We truly enter into God's presence when we know full well we enter into marvelous mystery that will never be corralled by our understanding.

Is this not what we are made for? 

Human beings long to be moved and touched on a higher level. Though society attempts to limit the place of God in the West today, He has a funny way of rising up from the silence as our inmost desires betray our own national trends. We long for God and if we do not have Him, we often foolishly settle for something far less adequate. 

The good news is you don't have to settle for water that cannot satisfy. You're everlasting thirst is quenched only in the fountain that never runs dry in glory and ecstasy. 

So approach God today with bold humility. Approach God in reverent familiarity. Approach this God who is awesome and accommodating realizing now and forever, you will not be satisfied anywhere else. 

Here I am.