To be in the midst means to be in the middle. We are halfway in and halfway out. Many times, someone has called me and ask if I could go somewhere with them, and I would have to answer, “I’m in the middle of something.” When you are in the middle it takes as much effort to get out of it as it did to get in. You are not finished, but you are too far in to quit. Being in the middle also means you are the same distance from everyone around you. The phrase “in the midst” in the Bible is used 256 times in 249 verses.
In Genesis 3:3, God had placed a tree in the midst of the garden that was not to be touched, nor were they to eat the fruit. It was in this tree, in the middle of the garden that Satan tempted Eve. It was in the middle of the garden that Eve sinned for the first time.
Genesis 3:3 “But of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”
Satan was there to tempt Eve in the middle of perfection. Everything God had created was perfect, except Satan, and the fallen angels that followed Him. They were perfect when they were created, so was the rest of creation, even Adam and Eve. However, Satan and his angels chose to go their own way and rebel against God.
Did Eve forget that God himself was always everywhere all the time? Did she not understand the power and awesomeness of her creator? Before we are so hard on Eve, let’s think about some others that seemed to forget that God was in their midst.
Did the Israelites forget that God was in their midst? I believe they forgot many times. I believe they forgot when Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. They built a golden calf and were worshiping it in Exodus 32. They forgot in Numbers 16 when God caused the earth to swallow up those who were rebellious against Moses, thus rebellious against God. Deuteronomy 11:6 tells us God was in their midst. God had always been in their midst, yet they often forgot until He would chastise them.
Numbers 16:32 “And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods”
Deuteronomy 11:6 “And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel:”
In Mark 4:35-41, we find Jesus in the midst of the disciples. Yet, they too forgot while they were going through the storm, God was in their midst. They soon realized the power of the God-Man that was in their boat.
Mark 4:35-41 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
What about us, how does this truth of Jesus being in the midst apply to us. As Christians, the moment we turn our lives to Him in faith, with repentance, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. God the Spirit comes to live within. He is in your midst! In Galatians 2:20, Paul reminds us that Christ lives within us.
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
God made a great sacrifice of His own Son so that we could be forgiven and experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We have God in our midst. With this thought in mind, how should we live? If Jesus were walking in his bodily form beside you, what would you say? Where would you go? What would you listen to or watch? Would you invite Him into every aspect of your life? If not, why not change while you can? We need to live with the truth that He is with us everywhere we go. How much different would your life be if you were close enough to Him to consider His feelings on everything you do, say, or think?
None of us are perfect, but that is the goal. As we grow in our faith and love for God, we should be recognizing things in our life that do not please God and laying them aside. We are called to be holy, and that only happens as we embrace and acknowledge this God who is in our midst.
I Peter 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
