Last Wednesday we started a new 4 week series on our Big, Big God. We began by talking through the issues of believing and following a God that we can't see or hear. I mean, let's face it, we're a pretty proof-driven society. People go around claiming stuff all the time but unless they can back up their claims with facts, data or photographs, we have a hard time buying it. So, what about a God that doesn't show up or speak to us? How are we expected to buy in to a God that we can't directly interact with?
Before we unpacked that, we talked about some of the intangible things in life that exist but we can't see or hear. They came up with great items from wind, light and the expanse of space to radio waves and germs. There are so many things that our eyes simply cannot see. And yet we know when we get sick, we see things because they are lit up and listen to music over the radio. The evidence of the things that are unseen give proof to their existance, even when our senses don't offer us the same support.
So, the first question I wanted to talk about is why. After all, God is able to do anything. He is God. So, if God doesn't appear to us or speak to us, there has to be a reason why. So we went way back in the Bible to the book of Exodus and caught up with the Israelites right before they were to get the 10 Commandments. God had some pretty direct instructions for the people in Exodus 19. He told Moses to come up Mount Sinai, but to make sure the people knew that if they tried to sneak up and check things out, they would die. Here we pick up two interesting deals. First off, Moses does have direct contact with God, though we'll address that more in a second. But there are some boundaries put in place by God to make sure others don't, with the severest of consequences. So, it seems as though contact with God is more of a choice of God than an actual ability on His part.
But before we think much further on that, we flip over a few chapters to Exodus 33:18-20 where we read about Moses requesting to see God's glory. So, it would seem that even the interaction we see between God and Moses on the mountain is limited. And God's response is that He will allow His goodness to pass in front of Moses, but that Moses can't look at God's face. No one can. God doesn't explain why. It isn't clear if it is because God won't allow it or if it is literally impossible because of God's holiness. But, we do know that God sheltered Moses in the hollow of a rock and allowed him to see God's back after He had passes by. And while we do see very few other places in the Bible where God directly interacts with people, usually angels or God's presence is what they interact with. And those instances are very few and far between.
So, standing face to face with God isn't an option, but obviously, from this account and others, at least speaking with God is an option. So why doesn't God speak directly with us? Again, it's hard to understand. But there has to be a reason. And one reason may lie with a conversation Jesus had with Thomas after he had been resurrected. As the other disciples had seen Jesus, Thomas makes a bold statement that until he is able to touch the wounds in his hands and side, he wouldn't believe. Thomas' reaction is probably very close to what most of ours would be. And when Jesus shows up, his proof is undeniable and Thomas believes. Then Jesus closes with a phrase that makes a huge impact on our conversation. Jesus says, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed."
Again we see faith being a key component in the questions we ask. Jesus proved himself to Thomas but says that those who believe but haven't seen are blessed. How can that be? What type of blessing comes from believing without seeing? I don't know about you, but I would have considering actually being in Jesus' presence a blessing, not to mention being his disciple. How could not seeing him be better than seeing him?
We ended in Hebrews 11. Here we get an definition of faith that is really accurate but hard to grasp. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see." Both sentences have huge contridictions, especially to us as fact-driven people. But it is exactly what faith is and why faith is such an essential thing to build. As I was talking to the kids, I was reminded about how much more faith their lifestyle calls for than mine. Everything they do is an exercise in faith. They rely on parents, teachers, coaches, and hundreds of other things in their life without having "proof" of anything. They don't worry about their next meal or where they will live tomorrow. They have faith that those things will be taken care of. They know it, even though there is no proof of it. They are certain of something they can't see. And often times I focus so much on the proof, that I remove faith from the equation at all.
Is that even a big deal? We skip down to verse 6 where we are reminded that without faith it is impossible to please God. It is our faith in things we can't prove or see that makes God happy. Not my good deeds that I can list out on paper. Not the hoops I jump through and rules I follow. It is only through faith that I please God. So, by not showing up, calling me on the phone or speaking in an audible voice in my head, God builds my faith by having me believe without any proof other than His Word.
Interestingly, Jesus told his disciples that he would be leaving them. And while they were bummed, he promised them it would be okay. Actually, he said it would be good that he was leaving because he was going to send someone that would be a better. As we closed, I reminded them that, while a few people were allowed to interact with God directly in the Bible, the vast majority didn't. But because the Holy Spirit was sent after Jesus ascended, we all now have a voice directly from God. It may not be an audible voice like a phone call or radio. It doesn't show up and let you stick your finger in it's wound. It doesn't cover you with it's hand and let you witness it's glory after it passes. But, it makes communication with the Creator of the universe a daily reality. And while we will probably never see God or hear His voice on earth, we can trust, by faith, that He loves us and wants a relationship with us. And just like the wind, we can't see it, but we know that it is there by the affect that love has on our lives.
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