“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I dot not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.” – Job 23:8-9
This passage in Job shows us there are times when, no matter which direction we go, we cannot find God or understand what He is doing. For some reason, there are times when He chooses to be elusive, evasive and evanescent. He answers to no one and refuses to ask permission to be Himself. Search for Him all you want, but if He chooses to hide Himself, there is no way to find Him.
At other times, no matter which way we go to get away from God, He is there (Ps. 139:7-10). Even in my darkest moments, I find God is with me, for darkness is as light to Him (Ps. 139: 12). Or, as Plato is quoted saying, “Light is the shadow of God.” God is everywhere, and there is no way to escape Him.
What challenges me is the fact that I cannot pin God down.
If I try to flee from God, He pursues me. If I try to find Him, He remains hidden. However, if I humbly answer His gentle knock (Rev. 3:20), He is always available for a conversation over coffee and a donut. Or a bagel, if you prefer. (A kosher, fat-free, no animals harmed in the making of this product kind of bagel. We wouldn’t want to upset anyone).
It gives me hope to know that my continuing relationship with God does not reside in knowing where God is, but in being sure God knows where I am. And God always knows where I am even when I don’t, which was why He asked a hiding Adam, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9). As I understand it, God didn’t lose Adam; Adam lost Adam. God knew where Adam was even if Adam didn’t quite know where he was at or what was going on, for disorientation and a tendency to hide from God are the natural results of sin and disobedience. But I’ll save that thought for another article. The purpose of “finding” God is to complete the circle of God finding us.
Then I started to wonder: Is it really that hard to find God, or do I just have difficulty finding things about God I will agree with, areas I’ll align my life with and directives I’ll obey? Or, upon finding Him, will I not like the answer I’ll get when, like Job, I finally hear Him speak (see Job, chapters 38-41)?
Those are good questions, and I’ll admit that I don’t always like the answers. Furthermore, I’ll admit that I don’t have all the answers. Sometimes I find God in the most interesting places and situations, and sometimes Gods find me in the most interesting places and situations. Is God hard to find? According to Job (and some of my recent experiences), sometimes He is. Is God pursuing you and me? According to David and the entire New Testament, He is. However, in spite of who is after who, I know that the desired result is a life that is pure, unmixed with contradictions, valuable and eternal.
So, which way is God? To the skeptic He is nowhere, but to the faithful, He is everywhere. Perhaps this is a good time to just be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10).
Previously posted June, ’09
Thinking Out Loud 
Beautiful. And He promises \
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Matt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Again, good post.
Carolyn / internetelias.wordpress.com
Feel free to delete or move this moment. It was just the easiest way to ask a question…
I have been a believer 50 years and never asked this question. I am amazed….
Very simply, suppose I pray, “God. Forgive Ralph for cheating on his wife (or whatever).” Does Ralph receive forgiveness? Suppose Ralph is lost…. Is he forgiven of cheating on his wife only to go to hell? I have prayed for the forgiveness of others for years and now I ask myself the question, “Why and does it work?”
archie rhines
37stories@gmail.com
Archie,
Great question. I’d say that Ralph will be forgiven of his sin when He asks God to forgive him. If Ralphs sins against you and you forgive him, the gift of forgiveness is primarily yours, unless Ralph is also seeking that forgiveness. You may be angry at Ralph for cheating on his wife and you need to release Ralph from the bondage of your anger. David DuPlesis said, “God has no grandchildren.” In other words, we cannot inherit a relationship with God from any other person. In a similar manner, forgiveness is not inherited or transferred. Each person will be responsible for their own life as they stand in front of God. Perhaps in asking God to forgive Ralph, you are actually asking for Ralph to understand his sin and seek the forgiveness not only of God, but also of his wife. Hope this helps.
Jim
Hi Archie…
After I read your question, I wondered what Scriptural refrence you had in mind that allowed us to aquire forgiveness for someone. I do not know any Biblical basis for forgiveness without repentance on the person’s part.
Timely!
Michael. How about “Father. Forgive them. They know not what they do.” Similar thing spoken by Jesus on the cross in an earthly body and Stephen as he was being stoned. I think there is precedence for a believing priest (from the priesthood of the believers) to ask for forgiveness of another’s sin. Just not sure about the mechanics and to what extent the forgiveness extends.
As always, am willing to be wrong…
Archie, food for thought concerning whether one person can ask forgiveness for another….or whether one can ‘command’ forgiveness for another.
From the cross, Christ ‘commanded’ forgiveness for those who were participating in His crucifixion and death. He did so because He KNEW they were not guilty. These were the remnant Jews who, according to Isaiah’s prophecy, were spiritually blinded and deafened. ‘to this day’ so they would not recognize Christ as Messiah. AFter all…He came to die. These Jews who were ‘fixed’ by God for the task…are not held accountable by God. Jesus knew this…thus He spoke the words for OUR benefit. So we would KNOW they were and are not held accountable. Stephen, too, was part of the whole ‘blind’ era and was martyred for the sake of Christ. But Stephen was FILLED, CONSUMED, by the Spirit of God so that as he the rocks were destroying his body…His spirit was well…literally seeing Christ at the right hand of God. So…in this supernatural overcoming power given Steven from God…he very easily KNEW there was a much bigger story here than just his own death. Again, Steven didn’t ‘ask’ their forgiveness. He commanded it. “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.”
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
The verse above happens WITHOUT FAIL for those who have the WORD ABIDING WITHIN. But, we the Church, Christians, so-call Bride are powerless, weak, apostate, and fruitless…for the most part.
Time is running out for us to get it ‘right.’ And all ten of my fingers and thumbs are pointing straight at myself…the typical professing Christian.
Carolyn /internetelias.wordpress.com