“Who can dwell with such a God?”

Isaiah 33:14-16

Have you been in a place mentally or physically where you were overcome with the likelihood 

that your chance of survival was in question?  If so, you may understand the question ask by 

this group of people in verse 14, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the 

godless: “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with 

everlasting burnings?”      

When we see the hand of God there is no other source known who can part the Red Sea, or 

kill large numbers of men in battle without the other side doing anything, and so men will 

always ask; “Who can dwell with such a God?”  The answer is found in the following verses,  

“He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who 

shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and 

shuts his eyes from looking on evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be 

the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.”  (Isaiah 33:15-16)   

The righteous is described in this manner; they do not exploit other people, they will avoid 

extortion, bribery, and murder, and their protector and provider will be God.

King David tells us about what God is looking for in our character in Psalms 24, and we must 

never forget “we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do.  We 

cannot save ourselves nor sanctify ourselves, God does that; but God will not give us good 

habits, He will not give us character, He will not make us walk aright.  We have to do all that 

ourselves, we have to work out the salvation God has worked in.”  Taken from “My Utmost 

for His Highest” Oswald Chambers on May 10, page 94.

Looking at Psalms 24:1-6, A Psalm of David.  “The earth is the LORD's and the fullness 

thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and 

established it upon the rivers.  Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?  And who shall stand 

in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul 

to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.  He will receive blessing from the LORD and 

righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Such is the generation of those who seek him,             who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” Selah  (Psalm 24:1-6 ESV)

Being in Christ does not give you good habits, in fact many in the church have the same 

patterns as the world, anger, hate, and little or no integrity, and it is clear from divorce rate in 

the church to lack of honesty in business dealings.  That is the bad news, and the good news 

is that you can change, the key is found in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the 

will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice