Face to Face

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:11-12

It’s been months since I journaled, despite staying in God’s word daily. So of course, the first scripture I sit down to journal again would give me pause. No one has ever seen God. I immediately think Adam and Eve, Enoch, Moses and Jacob. Genesis 3:8 says they heard God walking in the garden. It is clear they communicated with each other but it doesn’t say face to face. Genesis 5:22 and 24 indicate that Enoch walked with God.

walk – Strong’s H1980 –hālaḵ To live, to follow, intimacy, fellowship, lead a life pleasing to God

Exodus 33 describes how a cloud came to the tent of meeting when Moses was there, but verse 11 says face to face.

Genesis 32:30 Jacob said that he had met with God face to face.

I can’t pretend to know that theological reasoning behind the seeming contradictions. I think that no one has seen the fullness of God. God said that no one could see His face and live in Exodus 33:20

I believe we get revelations of who God is. We don’t know the fullness, but we get glimpses. He meets us where we are, like Martha knew Jesus was the healer and spoke to Him about if He could have come earlier Lazarus would have been healed. She knew Him as comforter, but He showed Himself to her and those with her as the Resurrection and the Life. They had a glimpse through Lazarus, they were still surprised when Jesus resurrected and came back to life.

Throughout the Old Testament, we get glimpses of God. We never get the fullness of who He is because we can’t handle all of Him. God is the same to day. He meets us where we are. He wants us to come to Him in what we know about Him, but He will reveal more of Himself if we look.

His love is complete. I know God’s love but I also know the fullness of His love is more than I can comprehend or bear. We are most like Him when we truly love, completely. When we love despite flaws in those we love and even despite the flaws in our love. God’s love is perfect.

Lord give me deeper insight and wisdom into Your love that I may reflect more of You to those around me. Let me see more of You that others may know more of You.