Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
The nation of Israel was called by Moses to be impressed with the benefits of sovereign election as God’s own nation. Particularly the calling was to recognize the nearness of God.
In my experience, the concept of God’s immanence (his nearness) is one that oftentimes eludes some of us in the Reformed camp. This is no doubt partly because of the evangelical culture that presents Jesus as our little buddy, like some type of spiritual Gilligan or something. As a result, we are concerned with recovering the transcendence of God (and rightly so) that we sometimes under emphasize the immanence of God. The fact of the matter is that our God is a God who is near to his people, one who hears us when we call upon him. This thought should birth great encouragement, humility and incentive to pray.
The nation of Israel oftentimes doubted the fidelity of God to his people as expressed through their grumblings. However, it was not the unfaithfulness of God that was evident but rather the unfaithfulness of his people.
How much more should Christians, those who are saved not from merely fiery serpents by beholding a bronze serpent on a pole (Num. 21), but we are those who are saved from the fiery hell by beholding the suffering servant on a cross?! Believers have no excuse for undervaluing the closeness of God to us in Christ. We have no basis for questioning love or faithfulness, for God would have to deny his son to deny his children, for we are united to him. The Cross is the purchase and proof of our closeness to him through Jesus Christ.
I need to pray more. I need rejoice in the nearness of God more. I need to talk about the fact that there is no other religion that has a God so near them as my God. I need to marvel at the loving and humble condescension of God in Christ to come to me and bring me near that I might enjoy and delight in sweet communion with him.
