My first roommate in college didn’t seem to want to be friends. He listened to music with his headphones on and stared at his computer all day, and nearly all night. He didn’t want to joke around or share a meal. We rarely spoke for the first few weeks. He simply didn’t want to interact.
Fortunately, we worship a God who loves to interact with us. In Exodus 25 He gave Moses a series of instructions on laws, festival rules, and other directions for how ancient Israel should worship and draw close to Him. It’s easy to think this section of the Bible is boring or not applicable to our lives today. But tucked within these verses are important details about God.
The first nine verses cover the making of offerings, but the section ends this way: “build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them” (Exodus 25:8).
God was moving in.
Verses 10 through 22 of Exodus 25 are directions on how to construct a small wooden ark that will hold God’s laws and more. Verse 22 says, “I will meet with you [above the ark] and talk to you.”
God was available to talk. He was accessible.
Verses 23 through 30 are about a table on which “the Bread of the Presence” would rest (Exodus 25:30).
God’s bread given to us. A foreshadowing of Jesus (John 6:48-50).
Imagine what it was like to be an Israelite and hear these things from God! Here was the One powerful enough to drown whole armies in the sea, telling them He was going to be with them! (Exodus 13:17–14:31).
A recurring theme in Exodus 25 is that God is with us, something fully revealed in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I don’t know what challenge you’re facing today, but if Jesus is your Savior, then God is with you (John 14:6-7). Call out to Him. He’s truly accessible.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Samuel 13:20-39
More:
Read John 6:22-58 and consider afresh how Jesus gives us access to God.
Next:
Have you ever tried to be friends with someone who refused to give you access to their heart? With that in mind, what does it mean for you to know that you have access to your loving Father in heaven?
Gary Shultz on April 8, 2016 at 6:40 am
Hi Andy, it is a truly overwhelming aspect to be able to speak to God at any time, any place, for almost all reasons. Sometimes I ask myself, why would He do that? I know it is because He can, and because He wants us to speak with Him. No sense being a complete stranger when we arrive in Heaven. Thankfully we don’t have the temple set up, God ripped the curtain open and what a great gesture.
You encase one of life’s hurtles at least for me. When I got out of school they didn’t have computers for common use. I have some adapting to do with how we communicate, or maybe not. I have to think God does not want tweeted. Thanks Andy
Andy Rogers on April 8, 2016 at 8:57 am
Hi Gary,
Thank you for sharing your heart. I’m thankful that the article was a blessing to you today. Praise the Lord for that! 🙂
I don’t know about you, but having access to God at any time through prayer is a privilege I take for granted. I get so comfortable muttering my complaints to him that I forget that speaking with him is a tremendous blessing! He’s the God of the universe. Does he need to hear our thoughts and grievances? No. But he wants to. He allows us access to him. For that, I will be eternally grateful.
-Andy
jim spillane on April 8, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Gary – good morning. I certainly agree that God wants to be a part of our daily lives but He’s not going to force His way in. We hold the doorknob, so to speak, in our hands and it’s up to us to open it. On another point, I’m not so sure that heaven is a place for “strangers.” Not only will those who arrive there be accepted, but they will be expected also! And finally, when it comes to modern forms of communication, I like to think of Proverbs as God’s text messages to us. Think of them as “tweets” on how to live our daily lives. They’re short and to the point. Be blessed, my friend.
gagirllive on April 8, 2016 at 9:16 am
Love this post today, Andy. I love Old Testament studies and this is one of my favorites. The first time I studied about the tabernacle I was blown away. One of the most fascinating things I learned was that if you looked at it from an aerial view–the lay-out of all the objects in the tabernacle–it formed the shape of the cross. And of course, all of the objects in the tabernacle and the ministry of the priests were symbols and foreshadows of Christ and His work for us. Still it was incomplete, wasn’t it? The blood of bulls and goats was not enough. The High Priest making atonement for himself and the people was not enough. Limited access was all they had. How blessed we are to live on this side of the cross! Jesus tore the veil and we can enter into the Holy of Holies. God is fully accessible to each and every one of us who believes. Sadly, many Christians picture God to be like your former roommate–unapproachable, stand-offish, aloof. How that must grieve Him! It’s all He’s ever wanted–to dwell with His people. I’m completely astounded and humbled by that. I don’t have a lot of friends. In fact, my closest ones are dead authors, poets, and theologians. 🙂 But I treasure my friendship with God. Through Christ He opened wide His heart and His arms to me, and guess what? I’m running in! Thanks for opening up this wonderful topic today, Andy. Blessings to everyone here!
Andy Rogers on April 8, 2016 at 9:35 am
Thanks so much for these encouraging words. I, too, think of many dead authors and poets as “friends.” Your comment about that made me realize that God is a LIVING author we can claim as a friend. Now that’s access!
There’s an ending to this story that we didn’t have space to print: My roommate and I eventually became friends. It took a long time, and the relationship was unusual. But with God’s blessing, and with a slow build up of trust, we got to know each other and learned to have fun hanging out in the dorm together at the end of the day. God is good and he eventually blessed that friendship. I hope he’ll bless you in your friendships today as well.
-Andy
gagirllive on April 8, 2016 at 9:52 am
Amen! Christ is my LIVING author friend! Thank you for that, Andy…and thank you for telling me “the rest of the story”. 🙂
sandy229 on April 8, 2016 at 10:22 am
Yes, thank you for telling us the rest of the story Andy!
Tom Felten on April 8, 2016 at 9:20 am
Andy, thanks so much for these biblical, encouraging words. Was chatting with someone this morning who is in a difficult place—with people who are unkind and discouraging. It was great to be able to talk about the reality that God is present and His grace can transform even the hardest heart!
Andy Rogers on April 8, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Thanks, Tom!
Sheridan Voysey on April 8, 2016 at 10:08 am
Thanks for this reminder of God’s accessibility, Andy. When you think of the gods of the surrounding region at the time – understood to be cold, aloof, angry, unmoved by humanity – it must’ve been quite something for God to have revealed himself like this.
Andy Rogers on April 8, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Thanks, Sheridan. And I agree. The precise degree of the Israelite’s shock or amazement at God’s revelation is likely lost on us because of the centuries of cultural changes. Sometimes the OT (particularly the law, and the brutal history) can seem shockingly cold to me. I have to remind myself that God was doing new with Israel, something culturally astounding.
samgaskill on April 8, 2016 at 10:12 am
Appreciate the insight today. I doubt we can understand the scope of God’s goodness to us. To be available ALL of the time and to be fully present with us. Not half-listening or focused on Himself but wholly engaged with us as often as we come to Him and even when we do not come. To imagine the God of the universe through the Holy Spirit interceding for us when we don’t even know what to ask for, being unaware of our deepest needs. Wow is all I can say. What a true friend we each have. What a mighty God we get to love and serve! My heart is lifted because I know Jesus is there for those who tune out or tune in for whatever reason. So many different life circumstances, personalities and also ways that people cope in the absence of God in their lives. Appreciate the thoughts expressed and the gift we are given to learn as we share our life experiences. Lord bless you today as you have blessed me.
sandy229 on April 8, 2016 at 10:20 am
It is so amazing how God can totally listen to our prayers when so many are praying, yet He hears each of us as if we were the only one. It’s just so overwhelming!!
samgaskill on April 8, 2016 at 11:02 am
You know Sandy, I think perhaps the “overwhelmed” sense of awe and gratitude is the key to the joy we experience as Christians. That joy turns to hope in Christ alone for all our needs. Allows us to stand firm in all things knowing God is with us whenever, wherever and for eternity! While I deeply love those close to my heart, they nor myself cannot provide to anyone else what Christ has done for us out of His pure uncondional love for us. That can provide a deep and abiding peace and even joy in the midst of any storm.
jim spillane on April 8, 2016 at 12:35 pm
sandy229 – I most certainly agree with your comment. And if I might take it a step further, “God loves every one of us as if there were but one of us to love.” – St. Augustine, and “Jesus loves you so much that if you were the only person on earth He still would have died for you.” – Corrie ten Boom
sandy229 on April 8, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Yes, so true, and that is just overwhelming too!!
sandy229 on April 9, 2016 at 12:51 pm
I really love all these tidbits of encouragement!! Thanks
Andy Rogers on April 8, 2016 at 3:09 pm
Thanks for the encouraging words, Sam!
sandy229 on April 8, 2016 at 10:15 am
I like being able to talk to God any time, or any place. He knows me better than I know myself. He always knows what I will do before I do. I know He is always with me. I really enjoy Sunday’s when we can all worship Him together and learn more about His ways. His ways are not always our ways, but we should strive to make them our ways. If we love Him, we will obey Him. I know that for sure because obedience is an outward expression of our love for Him, and when others see how much we love Him, they will want to know Him, and they will love Him too.
sandy229 on April 8, 2016 at 10:16 am
Thank you Andy for this amazing post today!!
Andy Rogers on April 8, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Thanks for reading, Sandy! Enjoy your day. God is good! -Andy
godlove on April 8, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Thanks for taking us to this Bible passage and for your insightful post about the nature of GOD. I think we cannot even start understanding GOD’s true nature: the same GOD who required a special ark to be built to indicate His presence, is the same GOD who came down as man and suffered in the hands of men to save all men, and is still the same GOD is always present, always listening and always watching over us, wherever we are. It’s quite totally and literally mind-blowing!! His is all Power and all Glory, yet he loves and cares and listens to each and every one of His children. Wow!
godlove on April 8, 2016 at 4:34 pm
Just to add: and to think He loves us even though we are not perfect like He is and we do not always do what He requires of us! There are no human words which come even close enough to describe our GOD and heavenly Father… and yet He is always just one word, one breath of prayer away. Thank you again Andy, and blessings to all for the insightful comments. Praise the Lord!
samgaskill on April 8, 2016 at 5:57 pm
It has been a blessing to sing praises together to our Great God today. Reading the words we share here; inadequate as they are to fully convey His blessings and our thankfulness is a gift! Grateful! Blessed by your enthusiasm and joy in the Lord!!