God's Presence

God’s presence in the OT. Dwell, go before

Lexham Theological Wordbook (Theological Overview)

The presence of God requires holiness (e.g., Exod 3:5), which is why Israel must follow strict laws protecting the holiness of God’s earthly dwelling to ensure that God’s presence would continue to dwell in their midst in the tabernacle or temple (e.g., Lev 26:3–13; compare Ezek 10:18–19). When God reveals his presence to Moses (Exod 33:18–23) and Elijah (1 Kgs 19:11–12) he is said to pass by (עָבַר, ʿābar), and Moses only sees his back. Several idioms for God’s presence with Israel are given in Num 14:14.In the New Testament, God’s presence on earth is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ as God incarnate, who has come to dwell (σκηνόω, skēnoō) upon the earth (John 1:14). Those who have seen Christ have seen God the Father (John 14:9). In the eschaton, God will again dwell (skēnoō) with redeemed humanity Rev 21:3).

God’s presence requires holiness. When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush: Exod 3.5 ““Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”

But the church now constitutes the temple of God in the NT. Christianity is essentially the religion of the presence of God and of communion with God. The body of Christ, “the spiritual temple” (Eph 2:22), made of “living stones” (1 Pt 2:5), is the depository of the presence and glory of God; and is infinitely greater than the old, the veil of whose Holy of Holies was rent at the moment of Christ’s dying on the cross (Mt 27:50, 51).

Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Presence of God, The,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1752.Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (The NT > Presence of God, The)

And now even the individual Christian is a temple of God (1 Cor 3:16, 17; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16). God is especially present in the Christian’s heart; there God reigns for there is his kingdom; there he is worshiped for there his glory and his presence have consecrated the heart into a temple. Taken together Colossians 1:19; 2:9; John 14:23 sum up the whole biblical theme of God’s indwelling presence.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

3:4 God called to him As in many other OT instances, Moses’ divine encounter results in his becoming the person through whom God will dispense revelation, and on whose behalf God will act (compare Gen 6:9; 12:7; 18:1).