From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible makes it abundantly clear, Yahweh wants to be known by mankind. The God who created everything is not hiding in isolation. Yahweh does not live in secret behind closed doors. Actually, the very opposite is true. God has painted His ‘Identification’ across the entire universe for all to see and respond to. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse (Romans 1:19-20). The universe is God’s ID Card. Creation tells of its Creator, speaking in great detail of His intellect, His power, and His character. The universe cries out to the world, ‘look at me and learn of your creator!’
While creation is a confronting invitation from God, it pales in comparison to the revelation of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. God has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:2-3). God could not have sent a more exposing ambassador to earth than His only Son. Imprinted with the essence of God’s perpetual life, love, and holiness, Jesus revealed His heavenly Father to the world perfectly and openly. Jesus said this in John 14:9, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
Years later, Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Saul without invitation. Now, it happened like this; as Saul approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:3-5). Saul was probably the worst God hater on the planet. An angel would not do for this mission, it had to be the glorified Jesus. So, Jesus stepped into Saul’s life, revealing Himself to the man who later became the apostle Paul.
The Bible has many examples of people God revealed Himself to. Genesis 35:6 tells of Jacob, who was at Luz (that is, Bethel)… there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. Likewise, Samuel, in 1 Samuel 3:21, the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. The Psalmist acknowledged in Psalm 98:2, the LORD has made known his salvation; He has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. Isaiah 22:14 confesses that the LORD of hosts has revealed himself in my ears.
Solomon prayed that as God brought foreigners to Israel, they would pray, and God would answer so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you (1 Kings 8:43). God has proven Himself; He is not idle or lazy. He says in Romans 10:20 …I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me. God is self-revealing through creation, through personal revelation, through His Son Jesus Christ, and through His written Word, the Bible. Yahweh has gone to extraordinary lengths to be known by mankind.
The question is, are we as willing and as enthusiastic to know God as He is to be known?
To be continued…