Heart of God

Do you ever Struggle to believe their is a God?

I know many of us may not think we ever struggle with this but there are some of us who may struggle with this on a regular basis. It is the question that we don’t necessarily always want to be honest about. It is a hard one to ask and to engage in.

Have you ever thought about why that is?

The reason I believe that many of us struggle with it is because we would have to admit to each other that we struggle with it.

I can’t lie and say that I have never struggled with it. I have faced the challenges and the battles of seeing and hearing about things in this world that makes me question. It makes me wonder how is it possible that God is there. If we speak truth though these thoughts can enter into any one of our minds. Yet there is an aspect to doubt and uncertainty that is also the moment that we are challenged to push beyond and engage in our faith in a deeper way.

It is in our quest to draw closer to him that we can become stronger in our doubts and uncertianities. Even if we don’t struggle beleive in him we still may struggle to know what he is really like. Or we may struggle with our relationship with him. This is why I ask you.

When you think of God what do you imagine he is like?

How do you picture him? What images come to mind?

Some people will describe God as the Old grandfather image. You know what I mean the old man with long white hair and beard. This often comes with other descriptors like anger or wrath or judgement. IT may also come with wisdom and power.

Some see God as a Kid with magnifying glass that is trying to burn some ants on a sunny day. That just when the ant seems to be getting ahead in the world zap here comes that kid to destroy their life.

Other’s will see God as a Vending machine. That if i Pray the right prayer or do the right thing then i should get what I want. They think that everything should be given to them because that is what God should do. God provides us with everything after all nothing should be denied.

I am sure we can sit her and come up with so many more ways that God should be like.

Now that we have talked about what we think about God let me flip the question on you.

What do you think God thinks of you? Do you think he wants to know you?

Ouch that is a loaded question isn’t it. What does God think of you? That one might be a hard answer but the truth is that God thinks a lot about all of us. God want to know you. This thinking got me to where we will be looking at the scriptures tonight. We be looking at a man who had a relationship with God. Turn with me to Exodus 33.

Exodus 33:12 NIV

12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’

This verse comes form us a time when Moses had to be questioning and wondering. Moses as a leader was faced with a moment where the people had given into their doubts and he had to be experiencing some exhaustion and frustration. He is trying to do his best and he is wanting more. He wants to get to know God better. He knows that God has told him that he knows his name and that he wants to know him. Moses asks the question of God.

If you know me and I have found favor with you than...

Exodus 33:13 NIV

13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

He asks God to teach him his ways. He wants to know him better so that he can continue to find favor in the eyes of the Lord.

This is the position that we need to find ourselves often in. Are we asking this question are we seeking him in ways that we want to grow in our relationship with God. Is our motivation such that we see this as an opportunity that we are interacting with the creator of the universe.

God answers Moses with a promise.

Exodus 33:14 NIV

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

His presence will go with him and he will provide him rest. He will be with him he will walk with him. This is the promise that we will have relationship with him. God wants to know us. He wants to be with us. He wants to grow in our relationship.

When you are close to someone have you ever asked something that is Bold?

Moses asked for something very bold of God.

Exodus 33:18 NIV

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

Moses is praying for God to show him his glory but he is asking for something that is very bold. It is something that he may not even realize fully what he is asking for. God’s response to him is interesting

Exodus 33:19–20 NIV

19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Moses Prayed and God answered but he did not answer fully the way that Moses was asking. Mosses is begging God to know him more. To see him more. To be in better relationship. God says though that he will be with him. He will have compassion and mercy. But

No man can see me and live.

It is a reminder that God is more than just another person. God is a being that we can’t even look at. One of the biggest challenges that we have today in Christian circles and the world even is that we think of God as just another human who has supernatural powers. God is Holy. God does not exist within our own understandings and is a being that is beyond our comprehension. We can do our best to understand that but at the end of the day we have to recognize that he is far greater than we can imagine.

Given the danger of Seeing God How should we approach him?

This draws me back to Exodus chapter 19.

Exodus 19:16–20 NIV

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. 20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up

People were trembling and in awe of what they were seeing. God was doing supernatural things when he called Moses to the mountain. Imagine how terrifying it would be to see this moment and to wonder what it would like to walk onto that mountain.

Nope not going to do it.

We have to approach God with respect and recognition that He is Holy.