Lent Devotional 7

God, and our understanding of God, is at the Heart of Christianity. The Bible gives us glimpses of God and our Faith compels us to accept these glimpses as real. The next few devotionals will share some images of God that I have experienced in the Scriptures and in life.

I think the first movie I ever saw was The 10 Commandments starring Charlton Heston. I was 5 years old and my grandmother took me. Mom or dad dropped us off at the old downtown theatre and in that amazing place began a lifelong  love affair between me and the movies.

I vividly remember that film and the parts that were the clearest were the scenes where God… Yahweh… was made known to Moses, to Pharaoh, and the people of Israel through “fire and voice”.

I vividly remember the scene where the bush burned, and didn’t burn, and that huge voice of God told Moses to “remove your sandals because you are standing on Holy Ground”.  And the when this God of “Fire that does not burn” said “tell them I am who I am”  God became real to a 5 year old boy.  I was hooked.  I wanted to see a God who burned as a bush or became a column of fire. I wanted to experience and understand a God who was so powerful that plagues, a staff that turned to a cobra or could part the water were an everyday occurrence. I was an impressionable 5 year old who wanted to know more.

But the scene that was so impressive that it was scary was when Yahweh sent fire from the sky and burned inscriptions of the 10 Commandments into the stone tablets.  I remember asking Ma Bessie what Commandments were, and I still remember her answer. She said, “they are rules God gives to help us live right”.  This God of power and might wanted little ol’ me to live “right”.

Years later in Seminary I reread the Exodus account of Moses. I was impressed by how correct Cecil B. DeMille’s version of the story was. The film correctly captures the image of a strong and powerful God who delivered His people.

Today I still treasure this image of a strong and powerful God who chooses to be a part of the life of His people. I still need and want to experience this “God of Fire” and realize that my childhood understanding is still a part of how I see God today. I want the church and our world to re-experience the journey with a God who leads with a pillar of fire. I keep seeking ways to step out and follow this “God of Fire” and find a freedom of relationship for myself and for all who are slaves to sin and death.

In the coming days think about how you know and experience God. Maybe share that understanding with yourself on a sheet of paper or verbally witness how you know God to someone.

Have a great day and

SHALOM,

Tom Mc