The Theology of Presence and Absence: God with Us

The Symbol of Divine Presence in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, God’s presence with Israel was symbolized through the Tabernacle and Temple, reflecting His covenantal commitment and active involvement in His people’s lives.

Exodus 33:14-15 records Moses’ plea for God to go with Israel, as His presence was essential for their journey and success. Exodus 25:8 instructs the construction of a sanctuary where God would dwell among His people, and 1 Kings 8:12-13 affirms Solomon’s fulfillment of this purpose in the Temple. These structures symbolized God’s tangible nearness, a covenantal promise of guidance and blessing.

Conversely, God’s absence often signaled judgment, as seen in Ezekiel 10-11, where His glory departs Jerusalem before its destruction. This contrast underscores presence as a source of life and absence as a consequence of disobedience, shaping Israel’s understanding of divine relationality.

Jesus as the Ultimate Embodiment of God's Presence

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ transcends the Old Testament symbols of divine presence, embodying God's indwelling in a permanent, incarnational form (Matthew 1:18-23; John 1:14).

Matthew 1:23 explicitly identifies Jesus as "Immanuel," fulfilling the ancient promise of God-with-us, while John 1:14 declares the Word becoming flesh to dwell among humanity - replacing the temporary, mediated presence of the Tabernacle and Temple. This Incarnation marks a qualitative shift: where Old Testament manifestations (e.g., Exodus 25:8) were provisional and spatially limited, Jesus represents God's unqualified, embodied nearness. His resurrection (John 20:19-20) further redefines presence, as his post-death appearances demonstrate that divine presence is no longer confined to physical structures or rituals.

Jesus' ascension, however, does not negate this presence but transforms it through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17), who becomes the perpetual indwelling reality for believers, redefining absence as active spiritual companionship rather than withdrawal.

This redefinition reframes absence not as divine abandonment but as the Spirit's ongoing work, replacing the Old Testament pattern where absence often signaled judgment (Ezekiel 10-11). In Christ, God's presence becomes both incarnate and immanent, setting the stage for understanding how absence itself is reinterpreted in the New Covenant context.

Living in the Light of God's Presence Today

The assurance of God’s indwelling presence challenges modern believers to live with conscious dependence on His active, relational nearness.

Believers are called to embody God’s presence as living temples (1 Corinthians 3:16), recognizing that their bodies and lives reflect His dwelling place. Conversely, Hebrews 4:12-13 warns that spiritual absence manifests when the Word’s piercing discernment reveals hardened hearts, signaling neglect of divine truth. This echoes Moses’ plea in Exodus 33:15, where God’s presence was a spiritual reality and the foundation of relational intimacy and covenantal success. Practically, this means cultivating prayer that seeks His voice, worship that acknowledges His holiness, and discipleship that prioritizes His transformative presence over routine observance.

Exploring Further

To deepen your understanding of God’s presence and absence, explore texts like Exodus 25 - 31, Matthew 1 - 4, and John 14 - 16, which illuminate their symbolic significance.

These passages, from the Tabernacle’s construction to Jesus’ promises of the Holy Spirit, invite reflection on how you’ve experienced God’s nearness or felt His absence. Scholars debate the nuances of these symbols, encouraging ongoing study and personal spiritual discernment.