The God who is near...

There are many different religions and many different gods in the diverse nations of planet earth. It seems that every culture and people group in the world senses the need to recognise that there is Someone or Something beyond ourselves, and so cultures throughout history have come up with different gods that they choose to worship. Sometimes it's very obvious that we have invented gods in our own image: ancient mythology is full of stories of "gods" who had just as many faults and failings, sins and weaknesses as human beings do. In other modern cultures and ancient civilisations, though, their gods are distant and different, far above the reach of mere human beings.

The interesting thing about the Judeo-Christian God is that He is neither of these things. He is not a fallible, imperfect being like we are, but neither is He unapproachable, even though He is sinless, glorious, transcendent and infinite. He's a God who is far above what we could ever imagine or think up for ourselves, and at the same time, He's a God who wants to be very near to each one of us.

Moses spoke to the people of Israel, even before they entered the Promised Land and became a great nation, saying: “For what other nation has their god as near to them as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to Him?" (Deuteronomy 4: 7) "We worship Yahweh Qarob," he's telling them. "That's pretty unique. No other nation, no matter how great they are, has a god who is close to them, like ours is."

That's one of the reasons that Jesus came to earth. He came to demonstrate that God wants to be present in our lives and have a close relationship with us; He is the God who is near.

Later, when speaking to people who were not even believers yet, Paul told them of an "unknown God," urging them to seek Him and find Him because He is not far from any one of us. (Acts17: 27) "You don't yet know Him," Paul told the Athenians, "but He is not a distant God; He is eagerly waiting to draw closer to those who seek Him."

The word qarob appears a few dozen times in the Old Testament; sometimes it's translated as "neighbour" or "close relative." God wants to live as close to us as our next-door neighbour, or a family member who lives in the same house. He doesn't want us to keep Him at a distance.

The Old Testament Hebrews were very aware of this. The writer of Psalm 119: 151 proclaimed, "You are Yahweh Qarob and all your commandments are true." David wrote in Psalm 145: 18 that the Lord is near (Yahweh qarob) to all who call on Him in sincerity. Isaiah urged Israel to, "Seek the Lord while He can be found; call upon Him while He is near." (qarob - Isaiah 55: 6)

Let's not keep God at a distance, but rather allow Him to draw near to us. James encouraged the New Testament believers to, "Come near to God and He will come near to you." (James 4: 8)

What are some of your best ways to "draw near to God"?

For me, it can be reading my Bible in the morning, listening to worship music, or walking with my dog in the stillness and beauty of creation.

In what ways can you draw closer to Yahweh Qarob this week?