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Then Shall the Sanctuary Be Cleansed - Donald K. Short

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confrontation was with himself. His ego was laid<br />

bare and his guilt was swallowed up before <strong>the</strong> One<br />

against whom he had sinned so grievously.<br />

We must understand that God was not<br />

wrestling with Jacob but Jacob was grappling with<br />

God. God could have crushed <strong>the</strong> supplanter at any<br />

given moment. Jacob perceived God as his enemy<br />

because in <strong>the</strong> light of His presence Jacob's guilt<br />

and sin became illuminated and he was virtually<br />

undone. This has been <strong>the</strong> sad history of God's<br />

every endeavor to draw nigh to man. It began in <strong>the</strong><br />

garden of Eden. As God approaches, man flees and<br />

hides. When will a group of people without fear<br />

hold <strong>the</strong>ir ground and face <strong>the</strong>ir sin, fully unveiled<br />

in God's presence and <strong>the</strong>n fully embrace <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

Creator God instead of in suspicion wrestling with<br />

Him?<br />

But for now <strong>the</strong> time of trouble is still future<br />

and we are content with intellectual strength. This<br />

has enabled us to fashion replicas of <strong>the</strong> priest's<br />

robes tailored to <strong>the</strong> finest detail and to build<br />

marvellous miniatures of <strong>the</strong> sanctuary building.<br />

110

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