Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

God cannot accommodate the abiding existence of sin or evil in His presence. I am reminded of the expulsion of Satan from heaven (Luke 10:18), as well as of the darkness that descended on the earth at the time that Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44), when He was bearing the penalty for the sins of all humanity from eternity past to eternity future, and God the Father could not look on Him.

The same thing happened to King Saul, when God would not answer him by any of the normal means of consulting Him (1 Samuel 28:6) because of his disobedience, to the point where Saul even went to a medium in an attempt to discern God's will, which further compounded his sin and guilt.

God is always accessible to those who seek Him in humility and with a consciousness of their own transgressions, rather than depending (as in the verse cited in the question) on adherence to prescribed ritual in the absence of sorrow over their wrongdoing. Any seeming "hiddenness" on His part is a consequence of unconfessed and unrepented sin that humans have committed.

February 12 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Is God hiding? God Himself asks us this question through the prophet Jeremiah. “‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the LORD, ‘And not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the LORD; ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:23-24).

There is no hiding from God (Job 34:22; Psa 139:7-12) and no escape from his judgment (Amos 9:2-4).

February 16 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

An interesting Bible verse.

Two other Bible verses help us with the question.

Isaiah 1:15, And when you spread out your palms, I hide my eyes from you. Although you offer many prayers, I am not listening; Your hands are filled with blood.

Micah 3:4, 4 At that time, they will call to the Lord for help, but He will not answer them. He will hide his face from them at that time, because of their wicked deed.

When we examine Hosea's words in Chapter 5:2, we see similar phrases recorded there, which explain why God hides His face from the Israelites.

And those falling away have sunk deep in slaughter, and I am warning all of them.

Like Isaiah and Micah's words, there was a great slaughter and bloodshed, and this is why God hid his face from them.

Verse 15 of Hosea chapter 5 tells us what God will now do. 

"I will go away and return to my place until they bear the consequences of their guilt, and then they will seek my favour. When they are in distress, they will seek me."

We note in this verse that God will not listen to them until they accept their guilt and turn back to God in repentance of their guilt.

In response to the query, God hides Himself from those who do not repent of their guilt, but once the Israelites and those who sin repent of their guilt, then God will reveal Himself.

The words of Isaiah instruct us on what is required when we sin (Isaiah 1:16-18), and if the Israelites want to regain God's favour, they must also apply those words of Isaiah.

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove your evil deeds from my sight; Stop doing bad. 17 Learn to do good, seek justice, correct the oppressor, defend the rights of the fatherless child, and plead the cause of the widow.” 18 “Come, now, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be made as white as snow; Though they are as red as crimson cloth, they will become like wool.

11 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report