“The Hidden Face of God” Isaiah 64:1-9 / Psalm 80 / Mark 13:24-37
DOES GOD HAVE A FACE?
During the Advent Season we are going to consider the face of God.
Throughout the OT we can find the blessing or desire to have “God’s face shine on us”
Numbers 6:25, Psalm 4:6; 31:16; 67:1; 80:3,7,19; 119:135, etc.
In Genesis 3:8, Adam & Eve hid from the “face” (translated as presence) of God.
Why? Sin – they were embarrassed, ashamed, feeling guilty.
Jacob named the place where he wrestled with God, Peniel = “The Face of God” because he saw God face to face.
The “Face of God” is a phrase that usually means the “presence of God”
When God’s face shines on us – we are blessed with a strong feeling (and understanding) of God’s presence in our lives.
We begin the Advent season by considering times when God’s face seems to be the hidden.
ADVENT IS ABOUT WAITING
Waiting for Christmas – gifts, lights, dinner, family gathering, etc.
A time of remembering how the world waited for Jesus.
ISAIAH’S TIME were difficult times for the People of God
Assyria was in an expansion mode – Aram and Israel pressured Ahaz (King of Judah) to form a coalition against Assyria. Ahaz formed an alliance with Assyria (for self preservation). Isaiah condemned Ahaz for this – he should have trusted God instead of political alliances.
Isaiah predicted God’s judgment on his people for not trusting him and not following Him. Later King Hezekiah heeded Isaiah’s word – God protected them and Assyria retreated.
Bottom line – Judah (God’s people) need a savior. They are looking for a Messiah.
They feel far from God’s protection and care. God seems distant.
Isaiah tells them – the messiah is coming, but they have to wait.
They need to be faithful while they wait.
Gospel means “good news” that the Messiah had come.
Jesus was a very different Messiah than they had expected.
Jesus would leave them, but the promise remained of his return.
Jesus said we have to endure a lot while we wait for his return.
Wars, tribulation, economic ruin, etc.
BUT, WHERE IS GOD?
The story is told … Two young lads had terrorized their neighborhood with their pranks and thefts. The parents didn’t know what to do and finally it was decided that the pastor would intervene and attempt to straighten out the boys. The pastor requested that he meet with the younger boy first. Billy, the youngest son, was sent to the church that afternoon.
He arrived and was ushered into the church office where he was seated in a very large chair in front of the desk. The minister then sat down opposite the boy. He folded his hands in front of him and stared at the boy a few seconds then said, “Where is God?”
Billy wasn’t sure what the question meant, so he just sat there quietly.The minister leaned over his desk, locked eyes and said in a much stronger voice, “Where…is…God?”
Billy started to squirm. He had no idea why he was here and the minister kept asking the same question. The minister then stood, again leaned over the desk and glared right at Billy, “Where is God? He asked.
The poor boy was now really getting scared and snuggled back into the full chair. The minister, meanwhile, moved from behind his desk to stand directly in front of Billy and raised one hand upward to Heaven. “WHERE…IS…GOD?” he bellowed.
Poor Billy lost it. What could he do? Here was a man of God asking questions he didn’t understand and he was scared. So he jumped up out of the chair, ran from the office, down the church aisle, out onto the sidewalk, up the street into his house. The he raced up the stairs and into their bedroom.
“What’s wrong Billy?” his brother asked. “Oh, Johnny,” he said. “We’re in BIG trouble this time. God’s missing and they think we took Him.”
We don’t have to wonder where God is!
The scripture tell us that God is everywhere – the highest mountain, the deepest sea.
Wherever we go, we will find that God is there – probably because we are there.
Psalm 139:8 “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there”
WHERE DOES GOD WANT TO BE?
In our families / In our lives / In our workplace / In our relationships / Etc.
PROBLEM: WE DON’T ALWAYS FEEL THAT GOD IS PRESENT
SOMETIMES GOD SEEMS HIDDEN
Where’s God when I need strength?
Where’s God when I’m sick?
Where’s God when I can’t pay the bills?
Where’s God when I don’t have enough $ for groceries?
Where’s God when I need (want) comfort?
Why doesn’t God help me?
Why doesn’t God show his face when I need him the most?
I’m sure you can think of examples. This past week the wife of a young man was killed in an auto accident. Where was God?
THE ANSWER
Judah needs a savior – They feel far from God / God seems distant
We need a savior - Where is God?
DO YOU HAVE HOPE?
The prophet Isaiah doesn’t give an answer, but he gives hope.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (9:2)
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given” (9:6)
“He will be called wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace … “
DOES SIN GET BETWEEN YOU AND GOD?
Isaiah doesn’t have an answer to why God doesn’t act.
He does let us know that the problem of Sin gets in the way.
“All we like sheep have gone astray”
Isaiah knows that we need to keep hopeful, confess our sins, and trust God.
A MESSAGE FROM HABAKKUK
All this reminds me of the Scripture passage used at our Community Thanksgiving Service, Habakkuk chapter 3
All sorts of bad things are happening: Babylonia is invading Jerusalem – the prophecy of Isaiah is coming true.
v. 16b “Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.”
vv.17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
HOW WE WAIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
It’s Advent. The difficulty is the waiting. We need to learn how to be joyful in a troublesome world … how to be happy when things are going bad … how to be content when you are worried to death … how to be cheerful when you feel like nothing is going right …
That’s when we need to see the hidden face of God … to smile on us.
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
I borrowed infant Calli King from her parents and showed her to the children.
I asked them, without touching her, to make her smile or laugh.
They made funny faces, smiles and laughs (none of them made an angry or scary face)
Eventually Calli smiled.
Numbers 6:25 is part of a blessing - May “the Lord make his face shine upon you”
God wants to make us happy / smile.
God wants to smile on us (he doesn’t want to be angry or frightening) – That’s why God sent Jesus.
We are in Advent – a time when we look for and prepare for the celebration of the first coming of Jesus.
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
Maybe you know someone who is going through a difficult time this Christmas season …
Maybe you are the face of God that they need to see.
Isaiah tells the people that God wants a relationship: Isaiah 64:8
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter.
God is the parent / we are the children
God is potter / we are the clay
There is an intrinsic relationship that God wants – at all times.
A relationship of trust
Mother Theresa is credited with saying, “I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.”
The book of Job tells us what happens to the person who trusts in God:
Job 33:26 (scripture box in bulletin)
When God seems hidden – God sent Jesus to smile on us.
To bring joy in the midst of a world that is full of tragedy and sorrow.
Here’s a poem:
“Where is God” by Andrew Pell
Does God reside far into the heavens above?
Or can God be found in a simple act of kindness and love.
Will you seek him in the deepest earth cavern?
Or will he guide you through the darkness with a bright lantern.
Do you look for him in a Synagogue? Or do we find God in a Cathedral Church.
You ask the question “Where do I search”
Open your heart and open your eyes.
I promise you there will be no lies.
God is and has always been walking hand in hand with you.
Accept and embrace these words for they are very true.
God is not far away in some distant Galaxy.
It is time for you to grow up and see.
The Living God is right here and now.
Accept him as your Lord and Saviour, humble yourself and bow.
You need to look no further today.
Be quiet; pray unceasingly; Listen to what God has to say.
© Andrew Pell 30/04/07
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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