Program Transcript
Episode 22: Theophany: Seeing God.
Heather M R Olsen
Hello Friends. I don’t get to see your faces, but I’m grateful for you and your desire to learn and journey with me.
I am reading Exodus right now in my quiet time. Karl and I are writing an Egypt podcast, a sequel to the Evidence Doesn’t Lie, but in Egypt. So, as I read Exodus, I am struck by small details I have missed in the past.
But one theological term I wanted to do a quick teaching on is Theophany: which is God’s presence here on earth in various forms. God appeared many times in Exodus, hence my thought process.
The etymology of Theophany is from the Greek word “theos” meaning “God.” “Phaineia,” meaning “to show or shine.” So God shows/shines.
Simply, per Merriam Webster, a theophany is “a visible manifestation of a deity.” I will simplify Merriam Webster one more level: Theophany is “a visible manifestation of God or YHWH.”
An article written about theophanies by the Institute for Creation Research asserts that, “There are over 50 possible theophanies recorded throughout the Old Testament.”
These Theophanies share 5 important qualities:
- These encounters are God-initiated
- They are declarations of God’s deity
- Miraculous actions and knowledge transpire
- There are also comforting statements, like “Don’t be afraid!” That seems to be a big one.
- Worship of God is a result of these encounters
So if God appeared to humans in the Bible, what does God look like?
God had told Moses, Exodus 33:20 “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” So God has a face? And He is so holy, we cannot look at Him?
Gospel writer John concurred as we can read in John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, [He] has made him known.
How does God’s voice sound? He speaks audibly to Adam & Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, and of course, He speaks praising His Son, Jesus twice plus many more.
Contemporary portrayals of God’s voice are often depicted by actor James Earl Jones, or someone similar, as a deep resonant voice, rich and commanding. What if God’s voice is high pitched, like a tenor? What if his voice is even higher pitched, like a woman’s? What if His language isn’t English? Or Swahili, Luganda, Hebrew? Or human?
Psalm 29:3, 5 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
Psalm 68:33 to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice.
And yet, God appeared to Elijah, as a gentle whisper, or still small voice.
1 Kings 19:11-13 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
God appeared to Moses in a burning bush.
Exodus 3:2-6 Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Deuteronomy 33:16 talks about God, the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush.
This burning bush Theophany is even talked about in the New Testament book of Acts.
Acts 7:30 After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.
God also appeared in both pillars of fire and cloud as He led the Israelites out of Egypt.
Exodus 13:21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
God came down in fire when Solomon dedicated the temple.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; His love endures forever.”
God appeared as a cloud or smoke in the tabernacle and temple.
There are so many more. Take time and search for them. Find more Theophanies in the Hebrew Bible!
Expanding, we have the Angel of the LORD. This Angel of the LORD found Hagar in the desert and ministered to her. He spoke to Abraham from Heaven. To Moses from the burning bush, then God spoke from the bush. A donkey saw the Angel of the LORD in the book of Numbers, the story of Balaam.
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Expanding this definition of Theophany from objects and weather, many theologians also believe the term “Angel of the LORD” is God’s appearance on earth; some go as far as saying the pre-incarnate Jesus. I have over 50 references for the Angel of the LORD in the Hebrew Bible, but there are 11 in the New Testament during Jesus’ conception and after his ascension. The Angel of the LORD could be a physical manifestation of God, or the pre-incarnate Jesus, or a Divine messenger that does God’s bidding and speaks for God. Remember that after Jesus ascended, this Angel of the LORD still appeared.
So, we have Theophany, God’s manifested presence in an object and the Angel of the LORD—but now, glory. What is God’s Glory?
Back to Merriam-Webster, of course there are many definitions, but the relevant definitions are:
“Great beauty and splendor: magnificence, beauty or resplendence.
The splendor and beatific happiness of heaven
broadly: eternity.”
Ancient Hebrew is cavod כָּבוֹד which means, “glory, honor, splendor, wealth.” “ We can read in Strong’s concordance, that “The glory of God, as described in the Bible, is a central theme, representing His divine presence and authority. The Israelites understood God’s glory as both a visible manifestation, such as the cloud and fire in the wilderness, and an intrinsic attribute of His nature.”Cavod” refers to His majestic presence and the manifestation of His divine attributes. We have God’s Glory throughout the Hebrew Bible.” But God’s glory is also in the Nativity story, as the Angels appear to the shepherds in the fields between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Luke 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Clearly, many of these manifestations weren’t beautiful and peaceful, but something to instill terror and fear.
Ezekiel speaks of the Glory of the LORD in,
Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Exodus 33:21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
God has a face and a back now. Or He is graciously using human terms to be more relatable and easier to understand.
But let’s examine one more term that has to do with Theophany and God’s Glory. This is a rabbinic term that some churches have instituted as well.
Shekinah or Shekhinah, in Hebrew.
Shekinah is “the presence of God in the world as conceived in Jewish theology.” Does that sound familiar?
Google defines Shekinah as, “God’s visible, radiant presence, often depicted as a cloud or fire, signifying His dwelling and power, particularly in the tabernacle and temple.” This “Shekinah” term is in the feminine singular. How about that?
This rabbinic term is another way to describe God’s manifestation on earth –or God’s dwelling here on earth.
In fact, the Hebrew shoresh (root) for Shekinah is שׁכן. meaning “to dwell, abide, reside, inhabit.” It primarily refers to God dwelling among His people.
The cultural impact of “shachan” is, “In ancient Israelite culture, the concept of dwelling was deeply significant. It was not merely about physical habitation but also about relationship and presence. The term “shakan” is notably used in relation to the Tabernacle and later the Temple, where God’s presence was said to dwell among the Israelites. This dwelling was a sign of God’s covenant relationship with His people, indicating His protection, guidance, and blessing.”
There are at least 128 occurrences of a tense of “shachan” in the Hebrew Bible.
Of the same root of “shachan” or “shekinah” is the word,
Mishkhan: translated as “tabernacle” or “dwelling place.”
Shekinah is God dwelling with humanity here on earth.
Our next series of podcasts will be the 7 Feasts of the LORD. The final feast is Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Ingathering. Israel’s immediate ingathering was the harvest of crops in the fall. Ancient observance of Sukkot or Tabernacles included the LORD’s Shekinah, His Glory, His Divine Presence, His Theophany, descending from Heaven to light the fire on the altar, and fill the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and later, the Temple.
Prophetically, in the future this will include the ingathering of the harvest of believers when Jesus comes again. Without giving too much away, God will dwell “shachan” with us all once again in the end times. His Shekinah will tabernacle with us forever. Heaven and Earth, and us, will be restored and God living with us, like Genesis’ Garden of Eden.
Mind blowing.
Theophany.
Glory.
Angel of the LORD.
Shekinah.
Let me just add another Hebrew word we’ve learned: Immanuel—God with us.
Friends, God appeared to many in the Bible. In various forms and voices and objects.
He dwelt with them.
Next God sent Himself in human form, as Jesus the Messiah.
Then, Jesus ascended back to Heaven, but God sent Himself as the Holy Spirit, who dwells in all of us who believe.
This is available to all; just for the asking. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and life.
All of this is unconventional.
Each appearance of God is different. Because our God is not stereotypical nor cliche.
Remember, His words to Isaiah and all of us:
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Shalom, chaverim.
**Heather!
©2025 Heather M R Olsen, Illumination: Hebrew Insights. All rights reserved. 
