Light and DarknessSample

A lamp as sign of God’s presence

The Lord’s presence among the people of Israel was visible in various ways. God Himself could not be seen. Even when the Lord spoke to the people at Mount Sinai, they could not see Him: “Then the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—only a voice” (Deuteronomy 4:12). God has no form. He is a Spirit who usually is invisible for human eyes.

But in the tabernacle (later the temple) there was a golden lampstand with seven lamps that should be kept burning regularly. This was a symbol for God’s continuous presence. Keeping this lamp burning every night was “a statute forever” throughout Israel’s generations. It reminded them of God’s appearance to Moses at the burning bush, when God revealed His plans to save the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and to make them into His special people. This God had not changed, nor had promises. He had not left the people even though they rebelled and sinned on various occasions. The burning lamps in the tabernacle / temple were a sign of the Lord’s faithfulness.

Do you experience God’s presence, although you can’t see Him?