Walking with God – Day 1

The Bible is overflowing with rich encounters of God with people like you and me: some abundantly blessed in spite of their dire circumstances, others earning his anger and judgement because of rebellion, foolishness and pride. As we pore over the pages of the Bible, it is fascinating to become immersed in the drama of “being human” that unfolds. From the very beginning, God shows that he is vitally interested in his creation, man, and wants to live in relationship with him.

We may find that we identify with some of the people we encounter in the Bible and imagine what it would have been like to be there, but for some of us, their experiences may seem just not quite so real, like Moses whose face shone after speaking to God on the mountain (Exodus 34:29); Elijah who called down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:12), who later did not die because he was carried off to God in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11); Isaiah who “saw the LORD seated on a throne, high and exalted, and (saw that) the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). Although these individuals may sometimes seem foreign to our understanding, one of them may have become our hero or role model.

Perhaps, it is easier to identify with those like Jacob, who wrestled with God (Genesis 32:24-30) or Peter, who denied Jesus when he was afraid (John 18:17), or humble Mary who joyfully praised God with, “My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46-47), in spite of the knowledge that the angel’s astounding news would mean that she would face the shame of carrying an illegitimate child.

God has created us, too, to be in relationship with him, but he engages with us at a different time in history and may place different challenges in our lives. The only differences between them and us are time and place. God has not changed, nor have his word and purposes for mankind; he is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

During the course of this month, we will meet and get to know an assortment of men and women from the Bible, and see God’s impact on their lives. Look at them with new eyes; be encouraged and inspired by their experiences of God and look to him for a new experience of your own.