A Cloudless Sky

Sixth Advent Reading

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

Revelation 21:3a

While wandering through the daily grind of the wilderness the Israelites had only to take a glance or renew a morning memory to be reminded that they were not alone. God’s presence was always evident in some way or another. In the morning they gathered God’s manna. Moving from one location to another a cloud or fire pillar was their GPS. And if that wasn’t evidence enough God was in the tabernacle that they carried with them.

God dwelled with the Israelites in objects that could be seen, felt, heard. Of course, even those weren’t enough for them at times. Despite all the visuals they still took to shaping golden cows. When Gabriel appears in Mary’s bedroom and the first indication of Jesus’ birth is given it is also the beginning of God making his dwelling place with man.

This amazing birth, where God reveals himself to man through his Son, should be an event that stops all doubt of his existence. Surely from this point there should be astounding accounts of God’s presence. Now he has been made flesh. Now we should be able to see him. But it doesn’t happen like that and we’re left wondering if the Israelites had it better.

With the appearance of Jesus we become more vulnerable when it comes to experiencing God. Faith in the unseen is now required. But, by looking more intently for God, keeping open and vulnerable to the experience, the visuals that appear will take us deeper into the mind of God. And that is a gift the wandering Israelites never received.

God, make my life
Your dwelling place.
Help me in the experiencing of your presence

to go deeper into You.

Amen.