God is There / God is Here

As we enter into the Advent season, we all will get very familiar with the word "Immanuel" ~ God with us!
Is this notion, just during this season or is God always with us?
Though we emphatically proclaim that "He is with us", do we realistically live that during the rest of the time?

Scores of references in the Scripture would suggest that people found it difficult to realize that God was with them.

Mark 6:45-56 (*49) - when Jesus walked on the water and came towards them at the 4th watch of the night - the disciples didn't recognize the Saviour!

Luke 24:13-31 (*16) - the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Him and talked with Him, but didn't realize that it was the Messiah, that they were talking with!

Luke 24:36-49 (*37,41) - the 11 disciples saw Jesus appear in their midst in the upper room and thought He was a ghost!

Matthew 11:1-15 (*2,3) / Luke 7:17-28 (*19,20) - John the Baptist, who so authoritatively proclaimed or introduced the Messiah into the world (cf. John 3:22-36), also had his share of doubts!


From times immemorial such questions lingered in the hearts of people, which is why God revealed Himself through His Name - JEHOVAH SHAMMAH ~ The Lord is there!
(cf. Ezekiel 48:35).


In response to this doubt, the Psalmist and many other OT prophets uttered the very Words of God to assure us of His presence with us.

Psalm 46:5-7 - "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her ... The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge"
Zephaniah 3:17 - "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with singing"
Zechariah 2:5 - The Lord Himself declares, "I will be under her a wall of fire round about, and will the glory in the midst of her"


And the classic example of all these is found in Genesis 28:16, right at the beginning of life after the covenant promise - "When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it".

How is it possible?
How come Jacob didn't recognize God's presence?

These are some of the questions we can ask when we read this story.
But there's more to it, than just this verse - Jacob was actually running away, after having deceived his brother, and was quite taken aback when He felt God's presence.

But don't we do the same thing with our life today?
Do we see Him there? Do we recognize His presence with us?
Or, are we running away too and are pleasantly surprised that He is still with us!


The Lord's presence is very much with us, not just during this advent season .. but at all times, as per His promise.

And I am reminded of the famous story of the "Footprints in the Sand" to reinforce the thought that He never leaves us nor forsakes us.



Click on the picture to the left to see an enlarged version of the same for clear visibility.