God with Us
“Adonai went before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead the way and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light. So they could travel both day and night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never departed from the people.”
––Exodus 13:21-22
One of the things we are celebrating during the Feast of Sukkot is God dwelling with us. In the wilderness, Israel had a visible manifestation of God’s presence with them day and night: pillars of cloud and fire. At one point, when God was displeased with His people’s faithlessness, Moses pleaded with Him that He would not send them forward if His presence did not go with them.
Thousands of years later, in a humble Bethlehem stable, the Messiah was born as Immanuel, God with us. After Yeshua’s (Jesus’) resurrection and ascension, dwelling with God took on a whole new form. God’s presence came to Believers through the Holy Spirit, given not among us, with us or near us, but right inside us.
Can we fathom the depths and extent of this gift? God is as close as our thoughts, and He will never depart from us. He is there to guide us as He did the Israelites in the desert. He reveals Himself, teaching us and showing His compassion as Jesus did when He lived on Earth. And He comforts and helps us, empowering us to walk in God’s ways.
As we focus this Sukkot on God dwelling with us, take some time to reflect on what it means to you that God dwells within us. Consider how you could become more aware and engaged with His presence. And rejoice at the wonders of God dwelling with you every day!
“Therefore Adonai Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive. When she is giving birth to a son, she will call his name Immanuel.”
“…which means ‘God with us.’”
––Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
––Revelation 3:20
“Yeshua answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.”
––John 14:23
Dwelling with God amid COVID-19
With God, there’s no social distancing required. No masks, no advance appointments and no pre-ordering necessary. You can be as spontaneous as you want. He is always ready to meet with you and ever eager to carry your burdens. Spend extra time with Him. As singles and families have found creative ways to spend time productively, we can apply that idea to our relationships with God too. You could read through a book of the Bible you seldom turn to. Go for walks with God, praying for things you’re typically too busy to address. Praise Him for something before you ask Him for something. Choose a chapter of the Bible and read it each day for a week. What are some other ideas you could do to freshen things up in your time with Him each day?
