Have we lost our sense of awe and humility before the all-powerful, creative, and holy God of the universe? We inhabit a post-modern age where scientific rationalism has replaced reverence and self-centered "spirituality" has overtaken biblical faith as society's prevailing belief system. Within the church, we have become overly comfortable and casual with a domesticated, familiar view of God that is far removed from the burning bushes and whirlwinds through which biblical figures experienced the living God. Inspired by a brief remark during a sermon, Trembly sets out to recover aspects of God--including his physical presence and power--that are central to biblical narratives of human encounters with God yet often overlooked in our modern readings. As a practicing psychotherapist, he brings a keen understanding of character and the human mind to his consideration of Moses, Jacob, and others who were transformed by their direct experiences with God. The God who emerges from Trembly's exploration is a God of unlimited power, creativity, and righteousness who refuses to be confined by the limits of human imagination and who speaks an unambiguous message, inviting us to share in the transforming work of his mighty "right hand" in the world.
After a sermon at his Baptist Church, the author is puzzled by the statement that since God is a spirit, he has no right hand. This leads the author to examine why "right hand" is mentioned so often in the Bible, and why various prophets and biblical stories talk about God's image. He explores the various stories, the imagery, and the impact on his Christian faith. This is a short book, and an interesting look at how we imagine God, and put his image into human form. He also relates his faith and his profession, and how that community considers God.
It talks about how we might have forgotten to feel amazed and humble in front of God, who is powerful, creative, and holy. He says that in today's world, we often focus too much on science and ourselves, rather than respecting and believing in God like the Bible teaches. Even in the church, he thinks our view of God has become too easy and familiar, which makes us forget about the incredible moments with God mentioned in the Bible.
The author got the idea for this from something said in a sermon. He wants to find again the parts of God, like his physical presence and power, that are important in the Bible but are usually not noticed in today's readings. Trembly, who is also a therapist, uses his knowledge about people's minds to look at characters like Moses and Jacob. They had big changes because of their experiences with God.
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