An Encounter With The Holy God

• What’s the first thing you would do if God appeared to you?

• What does it mean that God is holy?

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:5-6

Moses was born a Hebrew, but he was adopted and raised as an Egyptian. He grew up hearing about, and perhaps even worshiping, Egyptian gods. He knew little or nothing about the God of the Hebrews.

When he was 40 years old, Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. He had to flee Egypt. He ran to the desert, where he started a new life as a shepherd.

One day while he was leading his flock across the desert, he saw a burning bush. When he stepped in for a closer look, a voice from the bush called his name. After 40-some years, God was reintroducing himself. He immediately told Moses not to come any closer and to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground.

The first thing God wanted Moses to know about him was that he is holy. Moses was able to have a conversation with God and eventually enjoy a personal relationship with him—but only after he honored God’s holiness.

That’s important to remember in our worship. Before we do anything else, we must honor God’s holiness and praise him for it.

PRAYER
Dear God, you are holy. Nothing sinful can exist in your presence. Thank you for making us sinless through the blood of your Son. Amen.