DWELL

By Richard Boyd

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

If we are to understand God, we need to recognize who He is, and how he relates to us? Nothing can be more precise in identifying God than His word. The Bible like most books is something a writer illustrates to its reader. It is an accurate rendition of the heart and character of God.

When tempted by the Devil, Yeshua (Jesus) made it clear. “It is written, ‘Man must not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Matthew 4:4

Yeshua was precise in His response, every word from God is the only way a man can rightfully live. In other words, real-life is only obtained in what God is speaking.

But how can that translate nowadays? Is the Bible actually the word that God speaks and how can we be certain?

God will never impose Himself upon man, He affords everyone the opportunity of freedom of choice. Regardless of how we observe much of the Bible, it is the only book that accurately represents the heart of God.

Moreover, He said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; because he was afraid to look to God. Exodus 3:6

Moses has his first confrontation with God, He is in a place where he witnesses the brightness of God. Unable to look in the face of God in this encounter, Moses describes his heart-changing experience with God despite the extraordinary moment.

When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they were instructed by God to build a Tabernacle. In the original Hebrew language, the word for Tabernacle is Miš·kān. Although this is not a precise translation to English, it is a reasonable transliteration of the Hebrew word. The meaning of the word Tabernacle is a place where God dwells. Another way is to say He resides amongst them.

On the day that the tabernacle was raised, the cloud covered the tabernacle, specifically, the tent of the testimony: and in the evening there was on the tabernacle the appearance of fire, until the morning. Numbers 9:15

Fast forward to the time of Yeshua appearing on the earth. Yeshua is recorded in the Bible as the Word becoming flesh. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us, (and we observed his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Notice two essential components in this verse, the Word dwelling amongst man, complete in grace and truth. The importance as to why the word of God is living and genuine.

When we read the bible, our hearts are open to God's ever-living presence in our lives. Yeshua spoke of a relationship with His Father God (YHVH). He was the Word that became flesh and taught us how to live by every word that originates from God's lips.

God dwells amongst us and lives within us. We must nourish our hearts by the living Word of God.