Who's Behind that Curtain?

When I was growing up, I could not watch “The Wizard of Oz” after seeing it the first time. Those monkeys and the Wicked Witch of the West scared me so badly! Was anyone else afraid of them?? Whenever the movie came on, my brother was right in front of the TV, and I was in another room trying not to hear any sound from the movie!

Nevertheless, do you remember the part when Dorothy and the gang were talking to the Great Wizard behind the curtain, and Toto trotted over to pull the curtain back? The Wizard was not a real wizard at all but a “humbug circus performer”; however he was not revealed nor made accessible until Toto pulled that curtain back. When Dorothy accosted him for trying to be something he was not, he simply said "No dear, I'm a very good man. Just a very bad wizard."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Oz_characters_(created_by_Baum)#Wizard_of_Oz

Dorothy and the gang thought that they were at the mercy of this wizard in regards to returning to Kansas and that his “super” power would help her return. What disappointment for them when they saw that the wizard was a regular man. He had no more “super” power than they did.

During this morning’s quiet time, I was thanking and praising God for giving us his only Son to die on the cross and tear down that veil in order for us to have open access to Him.

He instantly gave me the vision of the Wizard behind the curtain. But why? Why did God give me this vision?

Before the plan of redemption, God was “located” in the holiest of holies behind a veil in the tabernacle, and only the high priest could have access to him. Once a year, he would take a blood sacrifice to God to plead the sins of the people. He would wear bells around the bottom of his robe. If the people outside didn’t hear the bells, they would assume that the priest had died in the sight of God and would pull him out.

But God wanted to be with his people more directly. He had a plan of redemption! When Jesus died and the veil was torn from top to bottom, God moved out of that place in the tabernacle (a building; the religious system) never to dwell again in a temple made by hands. Everyone, even the Gentiles, had full and direct access to God. The process changed from praying to God through clergy or some other intercessor to having a direct, personal relationship with God! (Hebrews 9)

In the Wizard of Oz, the “Wizard” wanted to have power and be important so the people would “worship” him and seek his advice. But the only way he could claim this power was to hide behind a curtain.

In God’s case, the situation was opposite. He already had the ultimate power but was located in the holiest of holies. He wanted to be with his people. When Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and tore down that veil, God was “exposed” or made accessible to all of us for a personal, direct relationship. We don’t have to talk through someone else to God; we talk directly to God! How awesome is that?

Unlike the “humbug circus performer”, our God is one who didn’t want to remain hidden. He loves His people with an awesome unconditional love and now is always with us and in us. He put the right plan into action so that we don’t have to ask "Who’s Behind that Curtain"!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel