# 262 Awesome God

The Book of Genesis

Day 262

Ge 28:17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!

Awesome is one of those words that has lost it’s true meaning. Our culture has turned it into a way of expressing something that is really “cool.” If Jacob were to speak these words to us today, we would immediately think that this place would be a really neat place to visit, and that’s all right to a certain extent, but the true meaning of the word, makes this place a terrifying place! The King James version of the Bible uses the word “dreadful.” Jacob said, “How dreadful is this place!” Suddenly, this place doesn’t seem quite as attractive does it?

Why was this a “dreadful” place? Because God was there in a special way, and He is holy! We are not. And whenever we are ushered into His presence, the stark contrast between our sinfulness and His sinlessness creates dread and terror! That’s why when Isaiah was in the presence of God, he said in Isa 6:5,  "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."

This is a vital concept for us to grasp, because it shows us our need for Jesus. It is only through the cleansing blood of Jesus that we are able to approach God. Heb 10:19,20 says, “ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,”

The late Rich Mullins, recorded a very popular song which was turned into a standard worship chorus in the church. It was called “Awesome God,” and we sang it as if to say that our God is really “cool”. Let me present the lyrics to you in their entirety and see if you think that was his original intent:

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain't just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)

There's thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)

And the Lord wasn't joking
When He kicked 'em out of Eden
It wasn't for no reason
That He shed His blood
His return is very close
And so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)

He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)

Judgment and wrath He poured out on the Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that you have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

So tell me was Rich Mullins trying to tell us that God is a really “cool” Guy or was he telling us that the holiness of God is terrifying. The terror of God can only be understood at the cross, and the terror of our soul in the presence of God, can only be removed through Jesus!