Portrait of the Personal Revealer

It is a cloud that symbolizes God's holy presence on Mt. Sinai (Ex 19:9, 16; 24:15)

We have talked the last couple of sessions in the Portraits of God - A Glimpse of God's Holiness how out of God's many attributes that over-arching attribute, the one that governs all others is God's Holiness. This holiness has three main ways in which it is used;

Radiance and brilliance- the concept of "glory"/God's presence is often linked with radiance - note burning bush in Ex. 3:5; also Mt. Sinai in Ex. 19:16-23; God's presence in the temple - Ex. 40:34-38, II Chron. 7:1ff; the pillar of fire by day Ex. 14:24. See also Isa. 6:3; Lev. 10:3; Ex. 29:43.

Separation- the idea is common to all occurrences of the word qadosh in the OT...separation from, separation to. Set apart for divine use or separated as/for deity. (see Ex. 19:3-6; Ex. 13:1-3)

Purity- ceremonial and also moral/ethical. (see Ez. 43:7-9)

The element that relates God as Personal Revealer to his other roles is holiness. The concept of holiness as brilliance is the dimension of holiness most closely associated with God's work as Revealer, and it is to this meaning of holiness that we now turn our attention.

The Revelation of God Himself - God reveals himself in a personal, metaphorical way in each major role.

There are minor roles in which God reveals himself using animal metaphors (Lion of tribe of Judah) or physical metaphors (rock), but all the primary metaphors are from "personal" categories.

He is not just a transcendent Creator who sovereignly rules over his subjects. In this personal role he becomes immanent and draws near to his people. There is always a biblical balance between God's transcendence and his immanence.

Transcendence - The transcendence of God is closely related to his sovereignty. It means that God is above, other than, and distinct from all he has made - he transcends it all. Paul says that there is "one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:6). Scripture says elsewhere, "For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods (Psalms 97:9; cf. 108:5).

From <http://www.theopedia.com/transcendence-of-god>

Immanence - The literal meaning of the immanence of God is "to be within" or "near" in relation to God's creation. Immanence is closely related to God's omnipresence, in that God is always present within the universe, though distinct from it. God is 'within' the universe in that God is its sustaining cause. (Geisler)

To affirm God's transcendence and deny his immanence is to arrive at deism. (he belief that God has created the universe but remains apart from it and permits his creation to administer itself through natural laws. Deism thus rejects the supernatural aspects of religion, such as belief in revelation in the Bible, and stresses the importance of ethical conduct.) To deny his transcendence and affirm his immanence is to arrive at pantheism. (It is the belief that all things contain divinity and that God is the sum of all things. Pantheism is the view that God is everything and everyone - and consequently that everyone and everything is God.)

From <http://www.theopedia.com/immanence-of-god>

Three symbols represent the holy presence of God in this category.

The first of these is God's glory.

As Emil Brunner puts it, the "holy name and the glory of God are inseparable."4 When Isaiah describes the threefold vision of God's holiness, he reports, "The whole earth is full of his glory" (Is 6:3). The glory of God as an expression of his holy presence is also described in terms of the glory that fills the tabernacle and especially the holy of holies at Mt. Sinai (Ex 40:34-35). The picture is repeated when the glory of God fills the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chron 5:14; 7:1-2), and so it is not surprising that Ezekiel in his vision of the return of God's presence to his temple describes it in terms of God filling the temple with his glory (Ezek 43:2, 4-5; 44:4). The glory of God symbolizes the holy presence of God in the visions of God in Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 1, and also represents the departure of the presence of God from the temple in Ezekiel 10-11. The same glory is identified with the presence of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lk 9:32), and finally, the holy city of Jerusalem that comes down from heaven is identified as having the glory of God in it (Rev 21:11, 23).' Edmond Jacob is right when he describes God's glory as the visible extension of the holiness of God. The glory of God, he says, is "uncovered holiness." Glory symbolized by cloud. If the glory of God is often used synonymously with the holiness of God's presence, it is also oftentimes symbolized by a cloud

The cloud may be symbolic of the mystery of God's holiness and suggests that while God is making his presence known and revealing his will, he is not known exhaustively. It is a cloud, representing the glory of God, that fills the holy of holies at the location of the tabernacle and the temple (Ex 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Chron 5:13- 14). It is a cloud that symbolizes God's holy presence on Mt. Sinai (Ex 19:9, 16; 24:15), and Ezekiel has his vision of God's presence related to a cloud (Ezek 1:4; 10:3-4). Jesus and the disciples are surrounded by a cloud of God's presence on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:5; Lk 9:34). When Jesus ascends into heaven, it is a cloud that receives him out of their sight (Acts 1:9), and they are informed that when he returns it will be on the clouds (Rev 1:7; Acts 1:9-11).' Glory symbolized by fire. Fire is also used as a symbol of the glory of God and of God's holy presence. Fire, on the other hand, is an apt symbol for the holy presence of God in that it represents either a purifying force or a force for judgment. God's holy presence can either bring destruction, that is, judgment, or it can cleanse and refine

It is from the burning bush that God speaks to Moses and informs him that he is on holy ground, i.e., he is in the presence of a holy God (Ex 3:5). God comes to reveal himself to a holy people on Mt Sinai in terms of fire and lightning (19:16, 18; 24:15, 17). Whereas God leads the children of Israel in the wilderness in the day by a pillar of cloud, in the night it is by a pillar of fire (13:21-22; 40:36-38), and when the glory of the Lord fills the temple, fire representing God's holy presence comes down and consumes the offering and the sacrifices (2 Chron 7:1). In the great story of the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, it is the God of Israel who answers by fire, and not Baal, the storm god of the Canaanites (1 Kings 18). The coals of fire from the altar and the smoke representing his presence appear in the visions of Isaiah (Is 6:4) and Ezekiel (1:4, 13-14, 27). Fire certainly symbolizes the coming of the full presence of God on the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3), and in one of the final pictures of God in Scripture there are the seven torches of fire, representing the Spirit of God before the throne of God (Rev 4:5).8

Both the cloud and fire then represent the holiness and the glory of God.' True knowledge of him or his presence does not require exhaustive knowledge. .

The Revelation of God's Word - The idea of a "Diety" revealing himself to his people in the ancient Eastern world is almost unheard of. The Biblical idea of a God desiring to come and know people and be known of them is unique. While the symbols of his glory (a cloud and fire) may represent his coming, the chief purpose of his appearing is for God to know and be known by his people.

Communicator of Truth - So he revealed himself as the Communicator of truth -The symbols of his presence involve some revelation, but the chief purpose of his presence is to make himself known in terms of verbal communication. This is the key ingredient in person-to-person relationships. The Word of God

Teacher Prophet

The Revelation of Who God Is

Father Friend