Genesis 15:12 (NKJV)

‘Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.’

I know scripture tells us to come boldly into the presence of God because He is our Father, and this we must do, but coming boldly and coming flippantly are not the same. After Abram had fulfilled the requirements of God by bringing the sacrifices and after ensuring vultures did not interfere with the carcasses; then the visitation of God came. Oh! And what a visitation.

Although Abram had been talking with God and questioning God and interacting with God before, at this junction, a ‘horror and great darkness’ came upon Abram as He entered the presence of the Majestic One. While the New Living Translation calls it a ‘terrifying darkness,’ the Amplified Bible says a ‘horror, a terror, a shuddering fear of great darkness assailed and oppressed him.’ What is this? There is yet a deeper crevice in experiencing God. The presence of God can be a fearful and terrifying place. The Majestic One is too mighty to be encountered with carelessness. The door of entry is open to us but may we shudder at the grandeur of the Majesty of the Almighty, such that we enter boldly yet with shaking because the glory of the Almighty can be oppressing.

‘Oh, how I crave this deeper encounter with You. How I desire to move beyond the familiarity with God whereby God is seen as only existing to do my will. I know that Jesus is the sacrifice laid to guarantee my entering into the divine presence and I know that it is in calling on His name that I can enter into the deeper experience; so Lord take me deeper into this terrifying fear of Your presence that I may experience You like never before. AMEN.’