April 16 -- "The God Who Meets With Us"

Today's Reading: Exodus 29 

"The God Who Meets With Us"

Today’s verse is part of a larger passage that outlines the instructions for consecrating the priests and the Tabernacle for worship in ancient Israel. Our verse tells us that God will meet with the people of Israel in the Tabernacle and that the Tabernacle will be sanctified, or made holy, by God's glory.

In the context of the passage, this indicates that the consecration of the priests and the Tabernacle is necessary for the people of Israel to worship God in a manner that is pleasing to Him. This was a process by which the priests were set apart and prepared for service to God.

This verse contains a profound and astonishing promise from the LORD – that He will “MEET” with the people. The idea is that if the priests and the people follow God’s prescribed blueprint for dedicating the Tabernacle and consecrating the priests, that He would “come out from hiding” and manifest Himself to them, making His presence known to His people. What an amazing promise!

The Bible repeatedly declares that it is the desire of our Creator to meet with His created beings. His will is for us to have a close personal connection with Him as we journey through life on Earth. He is not a far-away God, nor a hidden God. He is ever ready to meet with us by revealing His presence to us.  All He asks is that we prepare for such an experience by sanctifying and consecrating our lives to Him.

One of the primary effects of meeting with God is a deepening of your faith and sense of spiritual connection. When a person encounters a meeting with God, they experience a sense of awe, reverence, and humility that comes from being in the presence of a Supernatural and Almighty Being. This can lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of God's power, love, and grace, and a desire to live in accordance with His will. Encountering God in this way is a life-altering experience that brings a sense of peace, purpose, and joy to our lives. And it is not far away from any one of us.

God desires to have a relationship with His people and is always available to come out from hiding to meet with us when we follow His prescribed blueprint for our lives.