Encountering God draws us deeper into His purposes
The God of the Bible is a God who desires relationship with the people he has made. This is just not found in one or two places, but this runs throughout the entire biblical narrative. He is both transcendent and personal and wants to know us and be known by us.
It is stunning to realise that the One who is greater than everyone and everything wants to be deeply involved in our lives. He speaks with us, hears our prayers, and enters into genuine relationship with us. All of this is in spite of our failings, falling short and disappointing him, and consequently makes it all the more remarkable that he continues to desire to be with us.
When we are encountered by God something extraordinary happens – he draws us into His purposes. Encountering God is more than an experience: the encounter reveals who God is, transforms our identity, aligns our desires with His purposes, empowers us for action and draws us into relationship and mission.
Several significant encounters with God are recorded for us in the Bible. We are given a ‘fly on the wall’ view and these are insightful for us. Let’s consider a few:
1. Moses at the burning bush. Moses was minding his own business looking after his flock, when God shows up unannounced, reveals his deep concern for the Israelites, gives Moses a stunning insight into his character as a dependable God and enlists him for his purposes of delivering the Israelites out of Egypt. This transforms Moses from being a lowly shepherd of sheep and goats in the wilderness aware of his distinct limitations to being a shepherd of God’s people, guiding them skilfully from Egypt and through the wilderness to the edge of the Promised Land.
2. Joshua near Jericho. As Joshua approached the city of Jericho, having just led the people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, he meets God in the form of a man who is holding a drawn sword and asks, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” the man replies, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Joshua learns that God’s in charge and God’s work needs to be done in God’s way – that successful mission flows out of holiness.
3. Gideon hiding at the winepress. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appears to him there and tells him, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon, who feels anything but a mighty warrior, isn’t so sure God is with them. “Why all this trouble then from the Midianites?” God is patient with him, allaying all his fears and insecurity, and then sends the thresher of wheat to thresh the Midianites, not in his strength but in God’s strength.
4. Elijah in the cave. Elijah had fled the evil queen Jezebel, running from Carmel all the way down to Mount Horeb and wanted to die. He had been zealous for the LORD but it seemingly hadn’t work out. He had been instrumental in revealing a spectacular display of God’s power in distinction to Baal’s complete impotence. Now God, who has since shown his total care for Elijah, gives him a gentle, intimate, personal encounter in the still small voice. This then leads God to send him back to complete his mission with some key specific tasks.
5. Isaiah in the temple. Isaiah sees a breathtaking vision of God on the throne and the train of his robe filling the temple. He hears the seraphim cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Overcome by his own sinfulness, he thinks he is doomed, but after being cleansed and his lips touched, Isaiah hears, “Whom shall we send?” He immediately replies, “Lord send me.” He isn’t just to be an observer but a participant in God’s work, ultimately leading to worldwide renewal – a new heaven and new earth – where God’s glory will indeed fill everything.
6. The Disciples on the Day of Pentecost. The disciples had been praying together in the upstairs room, but on the Day of Pentecost, suddenly a violent wind comes and the Holy Spirit is poured out powerfully on them all. This encounter with God results in empowerment and Jesus' followers move from fear to bold public witness of the Living Lord Jesus, carrying his name from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria and then on to the ends of the earth.
So, what we see in all these encounters is a drawing into relationship and mission with God. And may the same be true for us. Rather than being an end in itself, may we be ready for an encounter with God as the beginning of a deeper relationship. As that relationship grows, may we become more fervent participants in His purposes—loving God, loving others and contributing to the flourishing of creation.