One day I had an interesting conversation with a young man. Although he believed that God existed, he didn’t think that He was directly involved in the affairs of humanity—a belief known as deism.
There are times when we wonder where God is in this broken, noisy world. But from Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:8) to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2) to the activities of the early church, we see God consistently involving Himself in the affairs of human beings.
In the Old Testament, God often spoke to people through the prophets. After years of consistent disobedience, He allowed the people of Judah to be taken captive by the Babylonians (1 Chronicles 9:1), yet He never gave up on them. Instead, He sent—among other prophets—His “watchman” Ezekiel to speak to the exiles through a series of visions (Ezekiel 1:1-3, Ezekiel 2:1-8, Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:7).
The people had been overcome with grief (Jeremiah 8:18-21), for they had lost their homes and were now living in a foreign land as a result of their rebellious, hard hearts. God, however, revealed through Ezekiel that He had not forgotten them (Ezekiel 2:4-5). He remained faithful and reminded them that they would once again be restored (Ezekiel 28:25, Ezekiel 39:25-29).
God speaks to us today in many ways: through the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17), His Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; 2 Peter 1:20-21), other people, the natural world (Job 12:7-9; Psalm 50:6, Psalm 97:6), and dreams and visions (Job 33:15). God’s plan is to restore all creation to Himself through Jesus (Romans 8:20-24), and He continues reaching out to us today. Let’s remain still and listen for His active voice above the din of this world (Psalm 46:10).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Deuteronomy 31:1-8
More:
Read Job 33:13-18 for more on how God speaks to us.
Next:
How might God be speaking to you today? Be aware and strive to see or hear Him as He’s working in and through you.
Gary Shultz on February 25, 2015 at 7:06 am
I am so glad God is involved greatly in our lives. Since He is, He has much to show and share with us. You have listed some of those ways, we just need to draw into His presence and listen and obey. Thank you
Tom Felten on February 25, 2015 at 8:42 am
Ruth, thanks for sharing these thoughts on our ever-present, loving God and His communication with us. I’m reminded of these verses; “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd” (John 10:14-16).
Marlena Graves on February 25, 2015 at 2:12 pm
It is a great comfort to me that God is involved in our lives. I’ve talked to some believers who doubt that he is as involved as I think he is. But if he isn’t involved in my life as well as in the lives of billions of others and involved in the events on this earth – it seems like my faith is in vain. But it’s not.
godlove on February 25, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Oh no it’s not Marlena! And I too do believe HE is greatly involved in my everyday life. I get comfort from the belief that HE guides me everyday through the Holy Spirit.
Mike Wittmer on February 25, 2015 at 4:26 pm
This is really helpful, Ruth. I think it’s easy to become a functional Deist, someone who doesn’t read the Bible to hear from God or speak back to Him in prayer. May God deliver us from that.
Winn Collier on February 28, 2015 at 5:32 pm
I’ve been reading a writer lately who suggest that the great thing lacking in our relationship with God these days is patience, patience for when God is silent or seems removed from our world. I think he’s on to something.