The Undeniable Presence of God

Introduction

Very rarely does humanity ever find middle ground. We are either left or right, up or down, etc.

The church has been no different as it taught different theologies about God. One example of this phenomenon is the immanence and transcendence of God.

Immanence is the belief that God is ever near and desiring to know Him. Transcendence is the belief that God is big, powerful, and not totally understandable.

In our current culture, we celebrate the immanence of God. He is present in creation, loving, kind. Because we know God this way, we have become casual about the things of God. However, we deny God’s transcendence - that God is bigger than creation, holy, righteous, and glorious.

God is both. This passage teaches us God’s love and desire to be near us, and it also teaches us his undeniable holiness and our wrecked sinfulness.

The more they experienced his immanence, the more they recognized his transcendence.

CIT: Our glorious God wants to know us.

Explanation and Application

The significance and purpose of God’s presence

English Standard Version Chapter 19

19 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Explanation. The people of God stand before the wilderness of Sinai, and God reveals his desire for them to obey his covenant.

They have been out of Egypt for about seven weeks (3 new moons).

They have seen God’s powerful work, but they certainly must be wondering how God is going to relate to them in a longterm manner.

Application

Unfortunately, we often seek God’s heart before his hand.

While the Red Sea, manna, and water from the rock were important, they were small acts they are leading to this point - the giving of the 10 commandments.

God has led them hear so that they will have a relationship with Him.

The fullest extent of his presence is meant not simply to do for them, but to know them.

We really want God to do for us more than we want to know God. God is showing, in the next two chapters, his desire to know and love his people.

This fact is why prayer is so hard. We miss, fundamentally, that God desires to know.

God tells this ragtag bunch of slaves why can’t seem to get it right, “YOU are my possession.”

What does this relationship look like?

I bore you on eagles wings. // I give you strength

I brought you to myself. // Closeness

You will obey me. // I will tell you what to do.

I will keep you as my treasured people. // Loved and Cherished

You shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. // You are honored in my sight.

The Israelites prepare for God’s presence

English Standard Version Chapter 19

7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. 9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”

When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, 10 the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

The people of God were told told to consecrate themselves. They were specifically told to wash their garments, refrain from touching the mountain, and abstain from sexual relations. Why?

Consecration means, “making holy,” which means, “Making oneself acceptable to be close to God.”

The three things that God asked them to do consecrated in specific ways.

“Washing garments” showed the Israelites their sinfulness.

“Refraining from touching the mountain” told the Israelites that God was holy and worthy of reverence and respect.

“Abstaining from sexual relations” quickened the Israelites to focus upon God.

God was saying, , “The day that you are about to have is not like the rest. Focus on me.”

God was not saying that sex with one’s spouse is dirty or defiling, but that sometimes he calls us to set aside even good things to truly listen to Him.

God was showing them just how sinful they were.

They had no ability to stand in God’s presence by themselves.

They had sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

Even though God desired a relationship with the Israelites, they had sinned against Him and needed to be separated from Him.

Every time we see our sin, we should be in total awe that God wants a relationship with us. We should be on the floor weeping, worshipping, and lifting our hands, because we have been redeemed when we didn’t deserve it.

It scares me - truly scares me, that many of us would rather look like the Pharisees who frowned disapprovingly at the woman who poured perfume on Jesus feet and washed them with her hair.

Jesus tells the Pharisees a parable of the moneylender who forgave 50 and 500 talents with the point that the one who had been forgiven 500 talents would love the moneylender more.

The truth is that our debt is billions of talents. An unbridgeable gap. An unpayable debt. And yet he still came, because he loves us.

GOD COMES TO BE WITH HIS PEOPLE

English Standard Version Chapter 19

16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

21 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ” 24 And the LORD said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Can we marvel in the fact that God came down?

He looked at mankind and decided to lavish his love.

He was coming to people who had squandered it. Stepped on it. Despised it. Rebelled against it.

Love came down.

David Platt, pastor in Virginia, was once speaking with a Buddhist monk in another country. He asked that individual what he believed about God and religion.

The monk replied, “God is at the top of the mountain, and people are at the bottom. Everyone is getting to God however they can, and there are many paths.”

Pastor David replied, “Ok, but what if God came down?”

The monk said, “I would want to know that God.”

David said, “Well, let me tell you about Jesus Christ.”

GOD CAME DOWN.

Christ on Calvary was God on the mountain. Instead of bringing the law, Jesus fulfills it and breaks its curse against all of mankind.

Conclusion

How does God satisfy the problems of his immanence and transcendence? He wants to know us, and we are sinful and cannot relate to him.

The answer is Jesus Christ.

Jesus came and gave himself so that we could be close to God and know his holiness in full.