The initial meeting with God does no seem a pleasant event from the human's viewpoint

[Fastfredy0]

Consider ...

1. Genesis 18: 27 Abraham answered, “Now behold, I who am but dust [in origin] and ashes have decided to speak to the Lord.
2. Judges 6:22 When Gideon realized [without any doubt] that He was the Angel of the Lord, he declared, “Oh no, Lord God! For now I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face [and I am doomed]!” 23 The Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.”
3. Judges 13:22 So Manoah said to his wife, “We will certainly die, because we have seen God.”
4. Job 42:5-6 "I [Job] have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth Thee: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes"
5. Isaiah 2:10 Go among the rocks and hide in the dust From the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty.
6. Isaiah 6:5 "Then said I [Isaiah], Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips:... for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts"
7. Ezekiel 1:28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory and brilliance of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell face downward and I heard a voice of One speaking.
8. Daniel 10:8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my normal appearance turned to a deathly pale, and I grew weak and faint [with fright]. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in a deep sleep, with my face [sunk] to the ground. 10 And behold, a hand touched me, which set me [unsteadily] upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 So he said to me, “O Daniel, you highly regarded and greatly beloved man, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.
9. Habakkuk 3:16 I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones, my legs tremble beneath me.
10. Matthew 17:2 And His [Jesus] appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. … and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
11. Luke 5:8 “Go away from me [Peter], Lord; I am a sinful man!”
12. Acts 9:3 As he [Paul] traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?”
13. Revelation 1:17 When I [John] saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid!

Thoughts?

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

None of those, are initial meetings

 

[Who Me]

As always context is important as is the cultural content.
Today we forget or are unaware of social class and how that used to affect relationships between high and lower status people.

The lower status person would always give honour and respect to a higher status person, so a mere man meeting God or his representative would react as your quotes say.

Then there is the spiritual dimension of an unclean sinner meeting a Holy God.
That would not be pleasant, knowing that one was spiritually unclean and seeing the Awesome majesty, and holiness of God would be terrifying.

Look at the warnings of the second coming, those who on seeing Jesus defending, know they are not his and in terror call on the hills, rocks etc to hide them from his sight.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Thoughts?

This shows the necessity of a human mediator between man and God. Man can't relate to a pillar of fire or cloud, in order to bridge the gap of sin and communicate with man, God must become a man.

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’“And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. (Deut. 18:15-19)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:1-14)