Our God Dwells Among Us
Introduction
From the beginning to the end of the Bible, "God has an insistent, persistent, consistent yearning to be with - to be among - His people." (Randy Roberts)
The purpose of this study is to consider what the Sanctuary/Tabernacle/Temple of the Holy Bible tells us about our Holy God and see if the above quote is Biblically correct.
In the Garden of Eden
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said: 'Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness...' And God created man in his image, in God's image he created him; male and female he created them.
- Being made in God's image suggests intimate relationship and presence—humanity was designed for face-to-face fellowship with their Creator.
Genesis 2:7-8 Jehovah God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life... Further, Jehovah God planted a garden in Eden... and there he put the man whom he had formed."
- God personally formed Adam and placed him in a prepared dwelling. This hands-on involvement shows intimate presence.
Genesis 3:8 Later they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden about the breezy part of the day...
- This shows God's habitual practice of walking in the garden with Adam and Eve. The phrase "about the breezy part of the day" suggests this was a regular appointment, indicating God dwelt among them in visible, personal fellowship before sin interrupted it.
In The Wilderness
Exodus 25:8 Have the people of Israel build me{Jehovah(vs.1)} a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.
Exodus 29:44-46 Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, 46 and they will know that I am Jehovah their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am Jehovah their God.
Exodus 33:14-15 So he{Jehovah(vs.12)} said: 'I myself will go with you, and I will give you rest.' To this he{Moses} said: 'If you yourself are not going along, do not lead us up from here.'"
- Moses' passionate plea shows that God's presence was everything—more valuable than the Promised Land itself. God responds by promising His personal presence.
Leviticus 26:11-13 I will live among you, and I will not despise you. 12 I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt...
In The Promised Land
1 Kings 6:11-14 Then Jehovah gave this message to Solomon: 12 “Concerning this Temple you are building... 13 I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel.” 14 So Solomon finished building the Temple.
- After this time, much evil came into Israel because they kept leaving Jehovah, in favor of other gods. => Judges 2:11-15 "Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah and served the Baals. They abandoned Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them, so that they offended Jehovah. They abandoned Jehovah and served Baal..."
- But did Jehovah forsake His people forever? No.
Ezekiel 37:26-28 And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. 27 I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am Jehovah, who makes Israel holy.”
Psalm 132:13-14 For Jehovah has chosen Zion; He has desired it for his dwelling place: 'This is my resting-place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.'
Isaiah 7:14 (and Matthew 1:23 ) "Therefore Jehovah himself will give you a sign: Look! The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel." / "...which means, when translated, 'God is with us.'"
- The very name of the Messiah means "God with us"—the incarnation is the ultimate expression of God dwelling among humanity.
Zechariah 2:10-11 'Shout joyfully and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for here I am coming, and I will reside in your midst,' declares Jehovah. 'And many nations will join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and they will become my people; and I will reside in your midst.'
- Prophetic promise of God's future dwelling among not just Israel but all nations—bridges to the New Testament reality.
In the New Testament
John 1:14 So the Word became human and made his home among us{or, from the Greek word eskēnōsen, => "tabernacled" or "pitched his tent" among us}. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
- Now, and forever more, it is the only-born Son of Jehovah( Jn3:16 ) who dwells among us. Jesus guarantees His perpetual presence with His followers:
- John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
- Matthew 28:20 ... be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
2 Corinthians 6:16 ... we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. {-Paul quoting Lev26:12; Ez37:27 }
- Paul defines the identity of this "God" => 1 Corinthians 8:6 "... there is one God, the Father..." Supporting scripture => https://sidnash.org/?1God
- Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. -Jesus
Ephesians 2:22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Hebrews 13:5 ...For he has said: 'I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.'
- God's covenant promise to never abandon His people—showing His commitment to remain present through Christ.
Revelation 7:15 That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.
- Tabernacle language ("spread his tent")—God dwelling protectively over His redeemed people, echoing the wilderness tabernacle.
Revelation 21:3,22 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them... 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
- From this, we can see that the final and everlasting temple is the Almighty Creator and His only-born Son.
Conclusion
God's yearning to dwell with His people is a golden thread from Genesis to Revelation - from Eden to the New Earth.
"You can know that you are the apple of God's eye - that He yearns to live among and with you. And that one day He will take us all home to sit down at His table. And He will say:"(Randy Roberts)
'Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.' ( Matthew 25:34 ) 'Look! I am making all things new... It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To anyone thirsting I will give from the spring of the water of life free. Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.' ( Revelation 21:5-7 )
- Regarding the phrase, "Anyone conquering", if you are wondering how to conquer... this may be helpful => https://sidnash.org/WillPower
In Luke 22:30, Jesus promises his disciples will "eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom."
Revelation 19:9 "Happy are those invited to the evening meal of the Lamb's marriage."
This, my friends, is the eternal homecoming - God dwelling with his people forever.
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )
-Sid Nash: 02/27/2026. Latest version: https://sidnash.org/docs/GodAmongUs.html