Season: 22 Episode: 319
Merry Christmas and welcome back to the Her Faith Inspires podcast!
In this special Christmas episode, we explore one of the most profound themes in all of Scripture: the presence of God dwelling with humanity.
From the Garden of Eden to the Tabernacle, the Temple, the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and finally eternity itself, the Bible tells a single, unified story—God’s relentless desire to dwell with His people.
This episode is a theological journey from Genesis to Revelation, revealing why Immanuel—God with us—is not just a Christmas message, but the heartbeat of redemptive history.
What This Episode Is About
In Episode 319, we trace the presence of God through six major stages of biblical history:
- God with man in the Garden
- God dwelling among Israel in the Tabernacle
- God’s glory filling the Temple
- God made flesh in Jesus Christ
- God indwelling believers through the Holy Spirit
- God dwelling with His redeemed people for eternity
This episode answers the question:
Why does the holy, infinite God desire to be with sinful humanity?
The Presence of God in the Garden of Eden
God Created Humanity for His Presence
The book of Genesis tells us about man’s beginning, not God’s. God is eternal, infinite, and uncreated—but humanity was created very good, in God’s image, and morally innocent.
In the Garden of Eden:
- God walked with Adam
- There was no barrier between God and man
- Humanity lived in direct fellowship with their Creator
The presence of God was unrestricted because sin had not yet entered the world.
Sin and Separation from God’s Presence
Genesis 3 marks the tragic turning point. When Adam and Eve sinned:
- They hid from the presence of the Lord
- Shame, fear, and separation entered human experience
- God asked the first recorded question in Scripture: “Where are you?”
Sin fractured humanity’s ability to dwell in God’s holy presence, and access to the tree of life was guarded—yet not forgotten.
God’s Presence After the Fall: Why It Changes
God is omnipresent—He fills all of creation.
Yet Scripture reveals that God chooses to manifest His presence among His people in specific ways.
Because God is holy:
- Sinful humanity cannot casually enter His presence
- God must make a way for fellowship without compromising His justice
From this point forward, God’s dwelling among man becomes mediated, not absent.
God’s Presence on the Mountain and in the Tabernacle
Mount Sinai: God Dwelling with His People
On Mount Sinai:
- God revealed Himself through thunder, fire, smoke, and earthquakes
- Moses acted as a mediator between God and the people
- God gave His law and established His covenant with Israel
God was not contained by the mountain—the mountain was overwhelmed by God.
The Tent of Meeting and God’s Nearness
Before the Tabernacle was built:
- Moses met with God in the “Tent of Meeting”
- Scripture says God spoke with Moses “face to face”—a relational phrase, not a physical description
- God protected Moses from seeing His full glory, which no sinful human could survive
The Ark of the Covenant: God Dwelling Among Israel
The Ark of the Covenant symbolized God’s holy presence:
- It contained the Law, manna, and Aaron’s staff
- It led Israel through the wilderness
- It represented God’s nearness and holiness
Yet Israel eventually confused the symbol with the Substance, forgetting that God does not dwell in objects made by human hands.
God’s Presence in the Temple
Solomon’s Temple and the Glory of the Lord
King Solomon built the first permanent temple:
- Constructed without noise at the building site
- Filled with the glory of God at its dedication
- Fire fell from heaven and God’s presence filled the temple
This temple stood for nearly 400 years until it was destroyed by the Babylonians.
The Second Temple and a Greater Glory
The second temple, built by Zerubbabel, lacked outward splendor, but God promised greater glory.
That promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ Himself walked through its courts.
Immanuel: God With Us in Jesus Christ
The Incarnation Explained
The name Immanuel means “God with us.”
Jesus Christ is:
- Fully God and fully man
- The Word made flesh
- The visible image of the invisible God
Colossians 2:9 tells us that the fullness of deity dwells bodily in Christ.
God dwells with man.
Jesus: Our High Priest and Final Sacrifice
Jesus did not come merely to visit humanity—He came to redeem it.
- He lived without sin
- He empathizes with our weaknesses
- He offered His blood once and for all
- He made access to God possible forever
Through Christ, the barrier between God and man was removed.
The Temple of the Holy Spirit: God Dwelling in Believers Today
God No Longer Dwells in Buildings
After Christ’s resurrection:
- God’s presence no longer resides in temples
- Believers themselves become the dwelling place of God
Scripture tells us:
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Every believer carries the presence of God wherever they go.
The Privilege of the New Covenant
As Christians:
- We don’t need a priest to approach God
- We don’t need sacrifices to enter His presence
- We can pray anytime, anywhere
- The Holy Spirit intercedes for us continually
We are the most blessed people in redemptive history.
Eternity: God Dwells With Man Forever
The Final Restoration of God’s Presence
Revelation gives us the end of the story:
- God will dwell with His people
- There will be no more curse
- The tree of life reappears
- God’s servants will see His face
What was lost in Eden is restored in eternity.
Why This Matters at Christmas
Christmas is not just about a manger—it’s about God pursuing His people.
From Genesis to Revelation:
- God comes to us because we cannot go to Him
- God makes a way where sin made separation
- God desires fellowship, not distance
This is the true meaning of Christmas.
Final Encouragement
This life is temporary—but eternity is secure in Christ.
God loves you.
God wants to be with you.
And through Jesus, He has made a way.
God dwells with man.
Merry Christmas, friends. Thank you for listening to the Her Faith Inspires podcast.
Questions? Email me at hello@shandafulbright.com
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The Lord willing, I’ll catch you on the next one!
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