From the UCC Network: Devotional for 12/27 "Seeing God"

Seeing God

Bible Excerpt from Exodus 33:18-23

The Lord said, “you cannot see my face…you shall see my back.”

Reflection by William C. Green

When my son was three and away from his mother he would point to a wall or a closed door and say, “My mommy’s there.”  He couldn’t see her, but he knew his mother was with him.

Such trust eludes us as we grow older and more skeptical.  It must have been hard for Moses when God says, “No, I won’t show you myself.”  He is only allowed to see God’s back.  But this was something, after all.  While Moses couldn’t see much, he knew God was present.

So it is for us.  God’s presence in our lives is elusive and indirect.  This is not the fault of our faith or vision.  It’s the way God wants it.  For us to grasp the full reality of God would be like staring at the sun, becoming as blinded as religious fanatics who claim to have God figured out.  We live in the light of the sun’s rays as in the light of God’s glory just celebrated again at Christmas.

As the festivity of the season recedes may this truth remain: although we can’t see Jesus, his presence is real in our lives.  Like my young son we can point to any wall or closed door we face that seems to stand between us and God, and say, “God is there.”

Prayer

Eternal God, may we know your love and mercy beyond anything we can fully grasp or understand.  In the spirit of Christ.  Amen.

About the Author William C. Green, a United Church of Christ minister, is the Director of Long Looking, a consultancy service specializing in fundraising and education for congregations. His new book, 52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Generous Giving, has just been published.