People Meeting with God
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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- See also: Walking with God
The focus here is on actual physical interaction with God.
- See also: Environmental Displays of God's Power or Presence. (This page has less focus on the "physical interaction" aspect.)
- How does this fit with: How God Interacts with Humans? - THIS MAY BECOME A GENERAL TOPIC PAGE?
The identification of this visible God - Who was this? Based on what we know from elsewhere in Scripture, it was probably Jesus Christ, in human form prior to his birth in Bethlehem.
- More details: Who is God in Visible Form?
Notes Related to Bible Pages
Genesis 3:1-24 - Adam and Eve: Spending time with their Creator was probably a daily event. Prior to the moment when they sinned, it would have been a joyful, eagerly anticipated event.
Genesis 4:1-26 - Cain and Abel may have given their offerings personally to God, at the edge of the garden.
See also: Moses and the Burning Bush.
(Genesis 18 - God visits Abraham and eats a meal with him.)
Exodus 19:3-25 - God descends to the top of the mountain; he talks to Moses. [This will happen several more times after this.]
- God speaks directly to the people, with a background of thunder, lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking (thick darkness).
- Because the people were terrified, "The people stayed at a distance, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was" (after the giving of the 10 commandments).
- God spoke face-to-face, with Moses in the middle.
- Because they are terrified, they want Moses to be a mediator between them and God. God agrees to it.
- The priests and elders were permitted to see God from a distance (with God's permission). Moses was allowed to go closer to God. (Instead of being killed, they were able to celebrate.) Those at the base of the mountain could see God's glory, but his being was hidden from their sight.
Exodus 33 and 34 (selected verses)
- Moses would meet with God outside the camp, in "The Tent of Meeting." God, in the pillar of cloud, would speak with Moses. The people would see the cloud and worship. Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
- Moses asked to see the full glory of God. He would be allowed only to get a glimpse of it after God passed by him; for to see God in all his glory would result in sudden death. (Afterward, Moses' face glowed.)
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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