With You, #2

I asserted, in the first article in this series, the state of a relationship is illustrated by the degree of separation, seen in orientation, location, or barriers. People who are enjoying a good relationship want to be 'with' one another. Modern language expresses this idea using 'spatial' words: two who enjoy a fulfilling relationship are said to be 'close,' while someone who does not form relationships readily might be spoken of as 'distant.'

Two in love want to be together as much as they can; two whose relationship is painful and unpleasant desire to be separated.

As relational beings created in the image of God, we model divine realities (however imperfectly) on a human level. So it is not surprising to find that the state of our relationship with God is illustrated by the degree of separation we experience from Him, as illustrated by orientation, location, or barriers.

A perfect example of this is found in Genesis 1-3. God created Adam and Eve that they might be with Him. His perfect intention was that Adam and Eve produce a generation of servants who would be loving and happy stewards over the Cosmos that He made (Genesis 1:26-31). It is evident from Genesis 2 that God fellowshiped with Adam and Eve, and attended to their needs.

God's desire was to display His glory to and through the world He had created. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve were corrupted by the serpent and decided upon other plans (Genesis 3:1-6). After they sinned against God, notice the change in their relationship with God and one another:

• They felt uncomfortable in their nakedness, and made clothes (a barrier between them), Genesis 3:7.
• When they heard God, they were afraid of Him and hid (change of location), Genesis 3:8.
• When questioned, Adam shifted the blame to Eve (a change in his orientation towards her), Genesis 3:12, and even subtly blamed God Himelf ('the woman You gave me!').
• As a consequence of their disobedience, they were driven out of the garden (the place where they met with God, an increasing separation), Genesis 3:24.

Today we experience both separation from God and from one another because of the alienation our sinfulness has brought about. Isaiah, the prophet, actually uses the term:

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Neither is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2 (NASB, emphasis mine)

There are so many rich illustrations of this principle in the Bible, including ones that accentuate the almost spatial, geographical nature of it, I could go on for quite some time buttressing my point from Scripture. In the next article, we'll see that God's desire remains unchanged: He still desires to have his redeemed creatures 'with' Him, and has communicated that in several powerful ways.