“Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20 – King James Version) My genuine hope and primary purpose for the Ephesians 3:20 Faith Encouragement and Empowerment Blog is to assist all people of faith, regardless of your prism of experience, to grow spiritually toward unconditional self-acceptance and develop personally acquiring progressive integrity of belief and lifestyle. I pray you will discover your unique purpose in life. I further pray love, joy, peace, happiness and unreserved self-acceptance will be your constant companions. Practically speaking, this blog will help you see the proverbial glass in life as always half full rather than half empty. I desire you become an eternal optimist who truly believes that Almighty God can do anything that you ask or imagine.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Theophany - Have You Seen the Lord?


Theophany – Have You Seen the Lord?

In the third chapter of Exodus, Moses observes a burning bush that is not being consumed.  Moses’ experience is an example of a theophany.  As this burning bush episode records an encounter with divine presence rather than a supernatural miracle, it is a theophany instead of an epiphany.  Instead of marveling in response to the extraordinary suspension of the laws of physics, Moses realizes he is in the direct presence of Almighty God.  Through this strange phenomenon, God grabs Moses’ attention and ordains Moses to accomplish His divine purpose for the Israelites.

Inasmuch as the American Heritage Dictionary defines a theophany as a “divine manifestation,” this godly appearance possesses several intricate characteristics.  Theophanies begin with divine initiative in the midst of life’s daily monotony.  While tending his sheep near Horeb, the mountain of God, Moses notices the burning bush that is inexplicably not being consumed.  Quite possibly, we have similar encounters while attending to routine responsibilities.  Interestingly and ironically, we may find ourselves in the presence of Almighty God as His will determines.

Secondly, a theophany requires a human response.  Powerful subtlety factors into both God’s initiation and our humble and immediate reply.  Exodus 3:4 bears this point: “When the Lord saw that he [Moses] had gone over to look, God called him from within the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’”  Had not Moses responded as he did in the third verse, “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up,” he would have missed the experience of a lifetime.  As we go about our daily affairs, we should be open to an encounter with God at any time.  If we fail to watch and listen, then the Lord finds someone else who has the requisite humility and willingness to become His chosen vessel.

Third, a theophany transforms the space where it occurs into “holy ground.”  Standing in the presence of God means that we are in the midst of perfection.  As finite and sinful human beings, we cannot arrogantly assume we can approach the divine as we are.  Consequently, God tells Moses to “take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”  Holiness is synonymous with godliness.  Therefore, we cautiously refer to ourselves as “holy.”  It means to be “set apart exclusively for divine use.”  If we offer our gifts, talents, time, energy, and resources to God for His particular purposes, then we legitimately characterize ourselves as “holy.”  Otherwise, we utilize religious pretense to cloak self-seeking ambition.

A divine plan and preparation are the fourth components of a theophany.  In the seventh verse, God tells Moses that He has indeed seen the misery of the Israelites within Egyptian bondage.  Further, God hears the cries of His people for relief and liberation.  Accordingly, He discloses His plan to Moses.  “I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land.” In identifying Himself as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” God reveals His intentions to fulfill the covenants that He made with them in Genesis 12, 15 and 32. 

Moreover, God “comes down” and chooses Moses as His human vessel to fulfill the covenant.  Despite Moses’ subsequent protests detailing Moses’ incapacities, the Lord assures Moses that He will sufficiently prepare Moses for the task that awaits him.  There is an old saying, “God’s will won’t call you where His grace can’t keep you.”  Ironically, God had already been preparing Moses.  For the first forty years of his life, Moses lives as a prince in Egypt.  He grows up in the palace of Pharaoh.  Moses learns the laws, culture and social mores of the people in power.  After committing murder in which Moses kills an Egyptian who is oppressing an Israelite, Moses flees to Midian as a fugitive.  God allows him to remain “on the lam,” until the Pharaoh who was in power at the time of the murder dies.  In the interim of the second forty years of life, Moses works as a shepherd overseeing the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro.  Both of those periods significantly prepare Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the promise land.

Fifth, God provides for those whom He calls.  Later in the text, Moses raises additional objections to God’s purposes.  Moses reminds God that he, Moses, has a speech impediment.  God uses Aaron whose eloquence informs the Israelites of God’s messages when communicated through Moses.  Like Moses, many of us ignore God’s call or attempt to disregard it because of a crisis of faith in ourselves.  The dilemma occurs when we doubt whether God can accomplish His purposes through us.  Yet, the good news is that God equips us with everything that we need to fulfill His plan.  

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