The Proximity of God

We have a God who is very near to us and is always with us; he even walks with us (Gen. 3,8). It is very clear in the history of the Israelites that God intervened in their lives and history. They felt the proximity of God in their daily lives. We read in the book of Exodus 13, 21-22 "The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they may travel by day and night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." This means God was constantly with them. The book of Deuteronomy reaffirms this constant presence of God. In the 31st chapter we read: "The Lord your God Himself will cross over before you"(v.3); "... it is the Lord your God who goes with you" (v.6); "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you..."(v. 8). In these verses God assures his people of His constant presence.

It is a plain reality that those who love us will not always be with us. At the same time we still expect that those who love us or those whom we love must be with us. Again, this is not always possible. There is a kind of uncertainty in our relations. What is certain, according to the Word of God, is that God will be with us always, everywhere, anytime.

There are clear examples in the Bible of instances when God reveals His nearness by intervening in the life situations of His people.

1. God comes and saves people from their fallen state. A few incidents of this from the Old Testament include:

Adam & Eve (Genesis 3), Cain (Genesis 4), David (II Samuel 12). In the New Testament we have the story of the Samaritan woman (John 4).

2. God intervenes in the impoverished situation of a widow, a member of the company of prophets (II Kings 4).

3. God intervenes in sickness through the healing of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram (II Kings 5). God heals the paralytic near the pool of Bethzatha (John 5). 4. God intervenes in suffering: In Daniel 3, 49 we read, "The angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace." In all these instances God made His presence felt to these people; they, too, realized

His presence in their situation. God wanted to perpetuate His presence throughout the world until the end of time.

Before the birth of Jesus it was prophesied that he will be called "Emmanuel" which means "God is with us" (Matthew 1, 23). Before his suffering and death, Jesus instituted the holy Eucharist to continue his presence among his people. Before his Ascension, Jesus said, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28, 20).

So God is with us always and He wants to be with His people too. May the Good Lord bless us all to feel (and be aware of the gift of) His nearness among us.