Shades and Shadows

I am studying right now in the books of the Law, mostly Genesis and Exodus right now. I am studying the Tabernacle and learning how God has chosen to dwell with us until we can finally dwell with Him and am amazed that the God of the universe wants to make His dwelling among us!! All throughout Scripture He actively pursues us and chooses to be in relationship with His people. Not because He needs us but because He delights in us! That in and of itself is MIND-BLOWING! But in my studying last night, I was led to something new. I was watching the original taping of Beth Moore's Bible study, "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place" and something she was teaching grabbed my mind and I have been unable to let it go. She was teaching from Genesis (among other places.. she likes to jump around!) The one thing that really caught my attention was from Genesis 1:27... 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. I have known this verse for as long as I can remember and quoted it many times, picturing in my mind that somehow God looks human-like in some perfect and organically wonderful way. However, that is not the idea of the Hebrew word for "image". When I think of image I think of my "mirror image", a replica of what my real face looks like. The Hebrew word for image is "tṣelem" meaning "from an unused root meaning to shade". We are created in His shade or shadow. There are so many derogatory comments that come to mind when we think about living in someone's shadow or stand in the shade of another but when we think about the shade of Yahweh, WOW! There are a couple of things that Beth pointed out that I wanted to share. God created us to be in His shadow. We don't have to live in anyone's shadow except for God's. We need to walk so closely with God that we are safe in His shadow. Psalm 91 "The Protection of the Most High 1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty 2 I will say to the Lord , “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ... 4 He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. I love this! We are created in His shadow, His shade. I think of the times Scripture references finding refuge in the shade, how God shaded Israel by day for 40 years in the wilderness by a pillar of cloud, how He provided shade for Jonah.... I just realized that these 2 are examples of how He provided protection even when His people were disobedient. Israel was wandering in the wilderness because of their sin and Jonah had been disobedient to God, then obeyed and then pouted. God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him. Even in discipline, God protects us. Even when we disobey or have sinful attitudes, He provides for us. From now on, when I think of God creating me in His image, it will not be with pictures of Him in my human likeness but with an image in my mind of Him creating me to dwell closely in His shadow. The shadow of His wings that provide shade, rest, security, and most importantly, the nearness of HIM who came to dwell with me until I can one day ultimately dwell with Him. What a mighty God we have. So tender. So awesome. How can we not stand in awe?