In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man arrive at the legendary Emerald City to meet with the Wizard. The Wizard is reputed to hold the power to solve each of the travelers' problems. But to enter his presence, they must first traverse a long, dimly lit, gothic hallway. The Lion is not alone in his cowardice as they enter the large inner sanctum. They are greeted with an explosion and billows of green smoke.

When the smoke finally clears, a giant, menacing, bodiless head shouts, "I am Oz, the great and terrible! Who are you?"

Dorothy attempts a response, but the Wizard booms, "Silence! The great and powerful Oz knows why you are here! Step forward, Tin Man."

The Tin Man approaches this ominous-looking figure with great trepidation, only to hear the Wizard say, "You dare come to me for a heart, you clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk?"

The other travelers are met with similar greetings. To the Scarecrow, he shouts, "You have the effrontery to ask for a brain, you billowing bale of bovine fodder?"

To the Cowardly Lion, Oz shouts, "And you, Lion?" The poor Lion is overcome with fear and faints.

This, unfortunately, is similar to the unflattering caricature summoned up by many when they think about God. The Wizard puts on a false show of majesty, but there is no love, no grace, no mercy.

In several places, Scripture gives an awesome picture of the holiness of God and the reverence he rightly inspires. At Mount Sinai as well as in visions given to Isaiah and Ezekiel, God manifests himself with fire and smoke and authority. That is who God is. But God is also loving and compassionate and gentle. We must hold both views of God in balance.

Elapsed time: From the MGM logo, this scene begins at 1:09:43 and lasts about three minutes.