Envisioning God

2. Envisioning God • When you close your eyes, how do you imagine God? • When you think of God, what images come to mind? • “Take it with you” journal • Doodle, take notes, sketch, color, acrylic painting • Share your perceptions during coffee time

4. Ex 19:The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. • 10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” All scripture NASB

5. Ex 1914 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” • 16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. • 18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

6. Ex 19: 21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.” 23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “Go down and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break forth upon them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

7. Ex 20:1-17 The Giving of the 10 commandments • 18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was. • 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 You shall not make other gods besides Me; …in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. …26 And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’

8. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • In the giving of the law, God showed his power • God flexed his muscles • Never lose sight of the might of our loving God • He took the people from a state of chaos to a place of order • In giving the law, God instilled respect for: • Himself • For other human beings

9. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • Deut 4:4 But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you. • 5 “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. 6 So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? 8 Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

10. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • The giving of the law represents wisdom and understanding • 6 So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes…

11. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • The giving of the law reflects on the quality of God who gave them.

12. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? 8 Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

13. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • The giving of the law reflects on the quality of God who gave them. • God’s law is superior to any other law • Usurping the law of God by the law of our interpreted constitution is placing an inferior god above the law of God.

14. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • Remove the law of God from our houses of law very cautiously • Recognize what you are doing when you do so • You are dethroning the God of the universe • You are replacing God’s law with man’s law • The intertwined purpose of the law and prophets was to point to the savior of the world

15. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law • Lk 24:44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

16. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law • Mt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

17. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • Summary • Consider the wisdom of the 10 commandments • The giving of the law deserved fanfare • God proclaims His wisdom in the giving of the law • God proclaims His understanding in the giving of the law • God proclaims His power in the giving of the law

18. Envisioning God… as Law Giver • Jesus summarized the 10 commandments • Love God • Love people • Respect God • Respect people

19. So What? Envisioning God as… • A being who inflicts fear? • A being who displays power? • A being who commands respect? • A being who compassionately shows people how to live in freedom and security? • A being who works against chaos to bring stability