Central Theme
God’s deepest desire, from Genesis to Revelation, is to dwell with mankind in intimate fellowship. Understanding this shapes everything about what pleases Him.
The Big Picture: Genesis to Revelation
The teaching opens by tracing God’s desire for communion with humanity across Scripture:
- Genesis 1 — God created man in His image to reflect His nature (love, kindness, grace) and called them to multiply, building a great family He could dwell with.
- The Fall — Sin shattered that fellowship and separated man from God.
- Revelation 21 — The story ends with a “loud voice from the throne” declaring: “The dwelling place of God is with man.” What was lost is fully restored.
In between, Northrup walks through Exodus 25 & 29 (the tabernacle), and Ezekiel 37 — each showing God making provision, within the constraints of man’s free will and His own holiness, to dwell among His people.
What God Delights In
Drawing from Jeremiah 9:23–24, God declares He delights in:
- Being known and understood by people
- Steadfast love (hesed)
- Justice and righteousness
Psalm 15 adds that those who dwell on God’s holy hill walk blamelessly, speak truth, control their tongues, love their neighbors, and reject self-interest.
The Foundation: Faith
The heart of the lesson is Hebrews 11, which Northrup calls the “hall of fame of believing.” The anchor verse is 11:6:
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
He defines faith as trust in God’s integrity — believing His word so completely that you act on it, even regarding things not yet seen. He walks through key figures:
- Enoch — walked with God, pleased Him, was taken up
- Noah — acted on an unseen warning, saved his family
- Abraham — left everything, not knowing where he was going, looking forward to a city whose builder is God
- Sarah — trusted the promise of a child despite impossibility
A key insight: these saints died without receiving the full promise, yet remained faithful — acknowledging they were “strangers and exiles” on earth, their hearts set on a heavenly homeland. Because of this, God is not ashamed to be called their God.
Takeaway
Pleasing God begins with genuine, active faith — trusting His word enough to live by it, keeping eternity in view rather than comfort in the present. The series will continue exploring what delights God versus what grieves or angers Him.