Why Is God Hidden?

I heard it said recently that one of the great atheists of our current age said, if there is a god he is one who likes to hide himself. No truer words have been spoken. Yahweh has hidden himself. This needs to be understood, even in the light of what it says in Romans:

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

Most will agree to this even though they would rather attribute it to a mythical "mother nature". There are even some scientists who acknowledge that creation was by design, they are just not convinced who designed it. However, their is a difference between seeing the invisible attributes and knowing the Creator.

Yahweh could have made it simple to find him but there is a point in him hiding his face. In Jeremiah 29 we find this verse:

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (v. 13)

It was his promise that he gave to his nation, his chosen people, those who were suppose to glorify him to the whole world. He was sending them into captivity because of their rebellion but he was not sending them without hope. He was telling them that when they were ready to come back into relationship with him he would then bring them out of their captivity. Relationship was far more important than a comfortable life. This is a promise he had made long before they rebelled because Yahweh knew the heart of his people. Back in 2 Chronicles, during Solomon's time as king, he gave the same promise:

When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

All of Yahweh's acts of correction of his children's behaviour was to have them turn back to him. The "seek my face" indicated the personal, intimate relationship he desired with his people. Do a word search of this phrase and see how often it was used. It is a point I fear we often miss; relationship with Jesus is of far greater value than any comfort or pleasure received in this world.

Have you ever wondered why there is so little evidence of anything throughout history? Why do we have to search so hard for little scraps of evidence of Biblical events and of the existence of Jesus? Because Yahweh has hidden himself so that we would have to search for him. He is quick to reveal himself to all those who earnestly seek him; those who search for him with all their heart. He isn't interested in massive crowds of lukewarm people paying him lip service. He is looking to have relationship with those who are wanting to love him with all their heart, all their soul, all their mind, all their strength. In the seeking we force ourselves to see things we do not want to deal with, to expose the secrets of our hearts, to admit that we can't save ourselves and need the intervention of our Creator.

Those of us who do know Jesus because we have searched for him, desiring to find him, know that our faith can never we shaken. It would be like denying the existence of my earthly father. I have known him, grew up under him, talk to him often, appreciate all that he has done for me. I am not about to agree with someone who says he doesn't exist just because they have never met him. Craziness.

Now to those of you who do know Jesus, let me encourage you in this thing. Remember, it is a relationship. It is not a one off. It is not a prayer that you prayed and now you are good for a lifetime. Relationships grow cold when neglected. Cold relationships lead to doubt and doubt drives in wedges. A relationship with Jesus requires a daily seeking. It requires time. It requires getting to know each other, which we do through the Word of God. It requires worship, appreciation, thanksgiving. You know Jesus so keep on knowing him every day, and let him fill you with wisdom and direction for your daily living. Remember, no longer what you want, but what he desires. That is a healthy relationship with Yahweh, who desires to be sought and found by everyone who.