A God who comes down
There are many instances in life when we feel that we are separated from God. Sometimes, this might be an illusion brought by the Devil to accuse you and destroy your relationship with God. At other times, it is God who gives you this feeling so that you are encouraged to spend more time with Him. As a rule of thumb, whatever draws you closer to God is from God and whatever draws you away is from the evil one. It is essential for a Christian to experience God's presence and hear His word on a regular basis. Throughout the Bible we see that Christians are meant to draw near to God (Psalms 73:28, Hebrews 10:22). However, In all our attempts to be close to God, we often miss the truth that God also wants to be with us. He enjoys our company as much as we enjoy His, but He will not force anyone to sit at His feet. We have to come on our own and commune with Him. When we draw close to Him, He will also draw close to us (James 4:8).
In Genesis 18, we find the awesome account of God's visitation of Abraham. Not only did God come down, he also talked with Abraham as with a friend. There was no separation here, it was perfect companionship between man and Almighty God. One thing that stands out in this conversation between Abraham and God is that Abraham understood what God was going to do about Sodom and Gomorrah even before God stated His decision to destroy the two cities. It is a fact that good friends can always predict what you would do in a given circumstance. Abraham knew that it was only a matter of time before God re-payed the evil deeds of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was then bold enough to literally argue with God about the wisdom of His judgement (Genesis 18:23). In the verses that follow, we see a God who is willing to bend His sovereign will for the sake of His servant. This is a truly remarkable trait of God which shows in a way how much He loves those who follow Him. If we think about it, not even our closest family members would be willing to listen to an argument as long as Abraham's argument.
What does this story in Genesis mean for a New Testament believer? One thing It shows is that God is willing to and happy to hear your petitions. When other people grow tired of your complaints, there is a God who will never grow tired of your honest petitions to Him. If you feel far away fom such a God, draw close to Him through prayer and you will see that separation from God is only an illusion. Seek Him and He will reward you (Hebrews 11:6).
Created almost 2 years ago
