Weekly Passages: Ki tisa: Exodus 30:11-34:35; 1 Kings 18:1-39; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18.

This question sounds rhetorical, but it has much to say to us. It would seem that Jesus answered it clearly when He said God is spirit (John 4:24), and that no-one has ever seen God (John 1:18). The Greek word for 'seen' used here (horao) means 'to stare at' or 'discern clearly' – it refers to a visual experience.

The writers of the Hebrew scriptures also reflect this. Jacob and Moses both admit to having 'seen' God 'face to face' (panim-el-panim, Gen 32:30; Ex 33:11), but when Moses asks God to show him His glory, God tells him even in this closeness: "You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live" (Ex 33:20). God says to him, "I will put you in a cleft in the rock, and cover you with My hand until I have I passed by...and you will see My back" (Heb. raita look after Me, what is behind Me, ie My glory). Isaiah also says of his vision of the Lord: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw [Heb. ra'a] the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train [shuwl, something that hangs down, like the long train of a bridal gown] of His robe filled the Temple" (Isa 6:1). This too was a vision of God's glory.

The Hebrew word ra'a has a common use for simply seeing with the eyes (either directly, or towards something), but it has many extended meanings. One can 'see' as in understanding God's word – 'I see what you mean' - and to harden the heart is to shut the eyes (Isa 6:10). We can 'see' to something as an act of provision – 'I'll see to it'. When God spoke to a prophet, He made Himself known through a vision, to enable the prophet or seer, to 'see' or hear, and proclaim His words. Yet to Moses, who was very humble, God spoke even 'mouth to mouth' (Hebrew peh-el-peh, Num 12:3-8).

God reaches out to His people beyond simple visual revelation: He also speaks, that we might discern and believe His Son.

What Do We Learn?

Two things become apparent. First, God's communication with His people goes beyond simple visual revelation. He also speaks to reveal Himself, as He did with Moses to proclaim His Name (His character and nature): "The LORD, the LORD God, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth [Hebrew chesed v'emet], maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished" (perfect justice) (Ex 34:6-7). Moses desires to 'see' God's glory but is given (hears) God's Name. He thus 'sees' God's steadfast faithfulness, truth and compassion.

Visual revelation can be sudden and dramatic, as we are hearing from many testimonies of Muslims to whom Jesus has revealed Himself. But verbal revelation is a process, a developing relationship. This intimacy is what God desires for His people, to bring them to Himself (Ex 19:4). It is also recorded in His word for future generations, that they too can be a witness to His chesed.

Verbal revelation is a process, a developing relationship that involves intimacy with God – what He desires for all His people.

Second, because man could not survive a vision of God Himself, He makes Himself known through dialogue, through Torah and the prophets, through how He acts, and in His perfect timing through the gift of His Son Yeshua (Jesus), who is the one Lawgiver and Judge who embodies all God's attributes. Because He kept and fulfilled (correctly interpreted) Torah, He is the living Torah. Yet He tells us that the pure in heart shall see God (Matt 5:8) and His servants in the new Jerusalem will see His face (Rev 22:4). What joy that will be!

Today, Choose to Hear God

We cannot yet see God, but we can hear Him - through both His written word and His spoken word - so that we might believe in Him. The Holy Spirit warns us of times when there was rebellion and unbelief in His people (in the exodus from Egypt and in the early church, Heb 3:7, 4:1). In these times, there were those who hardened their hearts (or who shut their eyes) so they could not 'see' Him.

In our time too, God says urgently: Today (while it is still TODAY), exhort one another daily, so that none are hardened through sin's deceitfulness so that we cannot 'see' God's grace and truth in Jesus (Heb 3:13). Blessed is he who holds steadfastly to faith in Christ, and hears and does his Lord's will.

Gaze Upon Him

If we cannot look at the sun in its fullness, how much less could we look at God Himself, who is pure light? And yet we are invited to gaze upon Jesus, who is the brightness of the Father's glory, to receive life. For as Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole after snakes attacked God's rebellious people in the wilderness, and anyone bitten by a snake who looked (intently) upon it would live (Num 21:9); in the same way, Jesus was lifted up on the cross, so that anyone who 'sees' (looks to Him) and believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-16, 6:40).

The word for us is: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts..." Let us not follow idols as the prophets of Baal did, which Elijah showed to be false and dead. Time is short. God brings us the same choice today: If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. Elijah demonstrated clearly who is the true and living God (1 Kings 18:21-39).

We face the same choice today as the people did in Elijah's time: if the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.

The gospel of Christ is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. This good news is not inscribed on tablets of stone - even by the finger of God (Ex 31:18) - but by the Spirit of the living God on tablets of human hearts (2 Cor 3:1-18). Here is our answer as to whether we can (or by choice, will) 'see' God.

Author: Greg Stevenson