The Omnipresence of God, Genesis 28:16

Did you know that the doctrine of God's omnipresence is a source of peace! Yeah, you heard me! This foundational teaching gives us peace!

I was reading the story of Jacob's ladder and something he said struck me...“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16, ESV)

I was caught by this passage as I considered what might have been for Jacob a developing understanding of God’s omnipresence in correlation to our, at least, basic belief of God being everywhere always.

So, quickly, let’s define the doctrine of God’s omnipresence.

1^st it is what theology calls an imcommunicable attribute, meaning it’s an attribute that only He has and doesn’t share with anyone. Nothing and no one else in all creation can claim omnipresence. This is part of what makes God magnificent, especially when we consider the fact that makes Himself known at specific times in specific ways, most significant of which is Jesus coming in the flesh. See, now my head hurts… Jesus is omnipresent, but at the same time seated at the right hand of God as the firstfruits back from the dead in a glorified body. (1 Cor. 15:20; Eph. 1:20)

2^nd There is no one place that can contain or hold God. Psalm 147 :5 says, “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” The adjective “great” refers to something immense in size, power, and number, in a sense it is undisclosed in its greatness. This is greatness beyond measure.

The word translated “abundant” comes from an old Aramaic word that originally referred to high military rank, like a general ranking higher than a lieutenant. So, to say that God’s power is “abundant” is to say that His power outranks any other power. When the word translated “beyond” is used certain ways, like it is here, it means nonexistence. Meaning, there is no measure for God’s understanding, or limitations to God’s understanding are nonexistent.

I had a professor who would always speak of God’s omnipresence in terms of His understanding, because omnipresence reaches beyond specific terms like “here” or “there”; it extends beyond the confines of both space and time. God’s understanding has no limit because He experiences everything throughout all time consistently at the same time.

Ugh!… again, my head hurts!

I said "briefly" so we’ll just leave defining God’s omnipresence there… “His experience of everything and all time consistently at the same time.” Now, back to Jacob…

What's going on with Him? Why is he surprised by God’s presence in this place, and why didn’t He recognize it before?

There is a level of fear in his voice like when you open your daily calendar and notice that you are supposed to be somewhere important right now, but you're still in your pj’s! He experiences shock and awe because of the dream he just had and the realization of God’s presence. He says in verse 17 that the place is “awesome!” This comes from a word that usually expresses a sense of smallness in comparison to the unimaginable, undefinable greatness of God.

In short Jacob’s mind is blown!

He names the place Bethel or “House of God.” This, for Jacob, is a way of recognizing God’s sovereign participation in his life. For Jacob it's an important moment of realization as God's  transcendence (beyond, greater than, and surrounding all creation) and imminence (in, through, and present) in creation becomes real for him.

In verses 20 and 21 we see Jacob make a vow to God that basically verbalizes God’s promise to him in the dream, presence and provision that results in a return to the land of his fathers. Jacob accepts his role in the covenant by submitting to God’s sovereignty in commitment to God, the sanctity of the place Bethel, and a tithe.

But by now you must be thinking, “What does this mean for me?”

It is true for us as it was for Jacob… You never can know God in the moment until you know God in and over everything. Until you truly come to terms with our God who is omnipresent, you will never know the peace of trusting God in the most exhilarating moments in life or the most heart wrenching moments. When we know God as omnipresent, we are reminded that in times of plenty we live out our days before Him who is the sovereign judge of all creation. There is a level of healthy fear in that, and that's a good thing! Knowing God’s omnipresence keeps us on the “road to everlasting life.” As David prayed, “God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any bad thing in me. Lead me on the road to everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NCV)

A knowledge and faith in God’s omnipresence “keeps” us even in the most heart wrenching moments. Because no matter how bad it gets, God is over it, above it, right there in it with us, and it has not taken Him by surprise. He is with us and provides for us even when the baby dies, the boss calls on your day off and sends you on an indefinite vacation, or the bank changes the locks on your door. He is greater than any situation, and He holds you in His hand, doesn’t let go, and doesn’t let you fall out. He knew it was coming and before the foundation of time He knew how He would carry you through.

Rest in His omnipresence.