How should we respond when the Kingdom of Heaven breaks in to our lives?
In my current Bible Study on Revelation, the question was asked, "Why does God use thunder and lightning, storms and loud voices?" One of my fellow Bible Study ladies hazarded the guess that maybe God does so to get our attention—like fireworks. I don't think so. I'm pretty convinced the descriptions of the storms when the throne of God appears are a natural result of the Kingdom of Heaven breaking in to this age and earth and a natural result of...well, encountering a holy God.
Consider when the Israelites finally made it to Mt. Sinai (for the first time). These people who had seen God's power displayed in such legendary ways as Egypt's plagues, the parting of the red sea, then encountered God's power as it descended on the mountain. And they were utterly overwhelmed.
Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder. (Exodus 19:18-19)
When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” (Exodus 20:18)
They were terrified. They refused to approach and they refused the incredible opportunity to meet with God and hear His voice for themselves. They sent Moses instead. And, when he didn't return, they assumed he'd died so they commissioned Aaron to create an idol.
I've never understood the connection until now: They saw the overwhelming display of weather phenomena so they asked for a calf—most likely a symbol of the Canaanite god of storms, Baal. They would have been very familiar with a practice to enjoin a demonic deity to an idol. (Something still practiced today, by the way, which is why Christians should NEVER allow idols in their homes or their premises).
Most scholars agree that the intention behind the demand for an idol was one of two things. First, to possibly enjoin Moses' departed spirit to go before them with the same power they had seen thus far. If this is the case, this would be idolatry of its own kind as revering a man as you would God is idolatry.
Second, to possibly diminish the incomprehensible and dreadful nature of the God on top of the mountain to a literal box more tangible and unambiguous. Tragically, instead of bowing low and receiving the commission God wanted to give them and accepting the invitation to intimacy, they stood far away. If this is the case, this would also be idolatry, as worshiping anyone other than who God is, as He reveals Himself to be, is idolatry.
Aren't we like this? Quickly looking for a box to contain God so we can comprehend One Who Is Incomprehensible. Or looking to leaders to go before us—to intercede for us or live the holy life for us. Instead of walking up the mountain to meet God and have our hearts uncovered in the process—anything but!
I think the real question is what does a holy God, so wholly other, want with a dusty creature like us? Like me? This is the question that makes me long to ascend the mountain of the Lord, each step up His holy hill a thrusting of my soul into the purifying flames of absolute surrender. Which is terrifying and humbling all at once.
"It was the revelation of God in His holiness drawing near to make Himself known in His grace, that made Abraham and Jacob, Job and Isaiah, bow so low." - A. Murray
It is the "coming near" that gets me every time. He is under no obligation to come, yet He does so. WHY? Why does our God draw near? He draws near because of His grace and His desire to make Himself known, for the purpose of relationship. My father and I call this revelationship.
What other God descends for relationship? No idol or god does so—only the Living God. Which brings me to another question: How should we respond to this God who descends?
For Abraham, God comes many times, often in the form of pre-incarnate Christ or a voice. The most intense is when God draws near and causes a great dread to fall on Abraham or a deep trance. While Abraham is in the trance, God moves between the pieces of the offering to make covenant, swearing by Himself because He's the only one holy and faithful enough to ensure the covenant is kept.
For Jacob, God comes in the form of a man who wrestles until daybreak. I cannot fully wrap my mind around this, but when Jacob finally figures out who he's wrestling (!), he is finally humbled and forever changed.
For Job, God comes to answer the charges Job hurls to the sky. And God comes. God doesn't answer Job's charges directly and He certainly doesn't have to answer them at all (which is the point of the "tour" God takes Job on), but does come. He comes in the storm and Job is made fully and completely aware of the dreadfulness of being in the presence of the Living God.
For Isaiah, God descends upon His throne, surrounded by incomprehensible sights and sounds—voices that cause earthquakes from awe-inspiring creatures. The revelation of God's holiness instantly reveals to Isaiah his current unholiness. Isaiah responds in humility and receives his commission. He responds:
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5)
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)
Daniel sees many visions and dreams many dreams, but the vision in Daniel 10 was felt by the men with him, though they couldn't see it. They trembled and fled, trying to hide themselves. Daniel is terrified, loses his strength and falls on his face in a "deep sleep" or trance or faint, similar to Abraham. Daniel responds as he is given strength and receives his commission.
For Ezekiel, who, second only to John's revelation, has the most intense visions, the throne of God and it's entourage descend:
I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. (Ezekiel 1:4-5)
He, too, falls facedown when he sees this vision. He, too, is strengthened and receives a commission.
John's revelation is the most intense and complete. The first revelation of Christ among the lamp stands prompts John to fall down dead—what seems to be a common response to the holiness of God. Then in chapter four, John is taken up by the Holy Spirit through the doorway of Heaven to see incredible beings and future events.
John, too, is strengthened and commissioned to write and tell the world of what he has seen the revelation of Jesus Christ:
I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17b-18)
What awaits us when His throne descends? What awaits us at the top of the mountain? A God who descends to us to have relationship.
May we, by God's grace, ascend.