­
The place of his residence, the Ark of the Covenant was nowhere to be found. There was plenty of evidence that maybe he had abandoned them. But the arrival of Immanuel cleared that up. Now God was with them, and in a way that was quite unlike anything that had happened before.

And what about now? Is God living among humans at all? Or is it only in individuals that he takes up residence? Or maybe amongst his church as it gathers together around him?  What about in a city or nation? Would God be interested in mixing it with a nation of unbelievers?

Last week there was an attempted controversy in the local paper about politicians being part of a “supernatural” church. The implication seemed to be that a church might have undue influence over the affairs of government. Or any influence, I suppose.

The basis of this fear, or hostility, is that people don’t want God interfering with their world. God, of course, has had a lot of experience with this particular sentiment and isn’t put off by it. He likes their world. Or rather he loves it as his world (since he hasn’t given up ownership of it).

So he is always present. And “interfering” – especially through his agents who try to bring his blessings to it. Once God located himself in the midst of his people in the Temple. Now he “decentralises” himself in disciples and in the gatherings of his people all over the world, so that the world might come to know him.

Dale

­