Why doesn't God reveal himself to everyone who asks for it?

[Monksailor]

Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. -- Matthew 13

For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. -- Matthew 25

According to what Joseph told the Pharaoh, when the Lord says something twice, He means it and it will happen.

So we see in Romans 2 that God gives a revelation of His existence and character in creation to everyone. But we also see that those who reject the truth told by creation will come under a supernatural delusion so that the bit of truth they were given but rejected will be taken from them.

We see this in the OT with King Ahab, who explicitly refused to know the Lord's truth about his plan to attack the Assyrians, therefore God sent a "lying spirit" to deceive him...to make sure he got what he wanted, which was "no truth."

This is something we need to remain aware of in the world. God has already revealed His existence and character to everyone.

Maybe some are actively conscious that "there must be a god who created all this and is controlling it" (which was the viewpoint of those Greeks in Athens who worshiped the Unknown God). Maybe some feel it, but haven't consciously considered it.

But we have to keep in mind that those who are consciously denying the God that is revealed by creation have subsequently been subjected to a supernatural delusion. If in their hearts they don't want to know the truth, then debating them is in vain.

Of course, this isn't something you can immediately know. Remember that King Jehoshaphat had been given the same false prophesy from the lying spirit as Ahab, but in his heart Jehoshaphat did want the Lord's truth, so Jehoshaphat challenged the false prophesy: "Is that really the truth?" and so was given the real truth.

At some point in a long debate, it might be worth realizing you're dealing with someone who in his heart does not want the truth and is so under a supernatural delusion.

What you have said reminds me of what I recently posted in another thread: "But because salvation is an individual or personal choice to receive that which is freely available to all and NOT a blanket pronouncement for all humanity satan can and is doing much damage by confusing and deceiving and distorting and blinding minds in order to thwart God's Will that ALL would be saved and come to repentance (2 Pt. 3:9), and be with Him for all eternity."

 

[Hawkins]

By the very covenant we have today, it specifies that humans need to be saved by faith and faith alone. So if God shows up publicly no one can be saved. However, if God doesn't show up at all, no one knows even the existence of God and His covenants.

So the only way which works is for God to show up in front of His chosen witnesses and for their testimonies to convey, thus the rest of human kind can choose to believe to be saved and disbelieve to be condemned.

This is the big picture. God can make Himself more obvious to those already believed, because Jesus knows their faith will pass His judgment. Making Himself more obvious to a Christian will strengthen his faith instead of of destroying his faith. That is, even under the circumstance that He chooses to make Himself to appear to be more obvious to a believer, it by no means says that He would make Himself completely or objectively evident to the believer.

This is the big picture. The last question is that will there be any exception to the above. I think it's a yes, God can make a decision as He sees fit when He has a legitimate reason, whether we can speculate this reason or not.

On the other hand, it's Christians responsibility to discern whether a claim is true, or it's actually from God.

 

[Yekcidmij]

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why?

Who knows? Maybe God doesn't see the need to pop up everywhere anytime someone asks to see him? Maybe God is content to reveal himself in ways other than showing up in visible, corporeal form anytime someone asks? Maybe God fully revealing himself comes with consequences which the person asking doesn't fully understand or really want - maybe God is aware of some things that we aren't?

 

[Blade]

I like what the singer/rap NF said in a song "oh Lord". He loves the lord. He will reveal Himself to any that ask. He respects no one. What He does for one He will do for all. We tent to look how God treated others and when we don't get the same treatment..God must not care. Yet...were missing it. He is doing something. He is no respecter of persons. He does whats best for each one of us. And like someone posted..there are many reasons why. For me...many times I thought THIS IS IT I really need you.. but it wasnt. Every time I needed Him..I needed an answer..every time He answered..show's up. He never left. Don't know Him..knew or saved. The key is one must ask from the heart. Some doubt even in the same prayer. You have to KNOW that He keeps His word. That He is not WITHIN any group of Christians out there. He only sees one body.

This is the part of "NF" song..very fitting. Again.. perfect timing..

"It's easy to blame God but harder to fix things
We look in the sky like, "why ain't You listening?"
Watching the news in our living rooms on the big screens
And talking 'bout "if God's really real, then where is He?"
You see the same God that you saying might not even exist
Becomes real to us, but only when we dying in bed
When ya healthy it's like, we don't really care for Him then
Leave me alone God, I'll call you when I need you again
Which is funny, everyone will sleep in the pews
Then blame God for our problems like He sleeping on you
We turn our backs on Him, what do you expect Him to do?
It's hard to answer prayers when nobody's praying to you
I look around at this world we walk on
It's a smack in the face, don't ever tell me there's no God
And if there isn't then what are we here for?
And what are y'all doing down there? I don't know Lord"

 

[Dave L]

It's true. God has revealed himself to those who have asked for it since the beginning of creation. There are many instances of God revealing himself in the Bible plus, there are many accounts of people in recent times who have seen Jesus. Myself included, I asked for proof of God's existence back when I first became a Christian and that very night I saw the silhouette of Christ and I saw my whole born again experience. Including the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It was a vision that could have ONLY come from God so from that very day throughout eternity I believe/believed in God. So I guess you could say God revealing himself to me is the final nail in the coffin for believing in his existence.

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why? And, if God does reveal himself to somebody does that make them special or something to God? Does God only show himself to people whom he considers to be special? Or is there something else to it? Like, he only reveals himself to Christians first of all or those who want to become Christians. Or maybe he only reveals himself to those who are a part of his plan and could tell the world of his existence. Like those who have claimed to have gone to hell and come back and actually had a talk with Jesus.

Naturally for God to reveal himself it has to be part of God's grand plan. Like when God revealed himself to Moses it was so that Israel could be freed from slavery. And when God revealed himself to Abraham it was so that it could enhance Abraham's faith more ..etc. But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

Most think seeing things that aren't there spells trouble. Hearing voices too. Religious affiliation and psychiatric disorder among Protestant baby boomers. - PubMed - NCBI

 

[Yekcidmij]

Most think seeing things that aren't there spells trouble. Hearing voices too. Religious affiliation and psychiatric disorder among Protestant baby boomers. - PubMed - NCBI

Interesting study. But is that study related to "hearing and seeing things" that aren't there? I mean, a DSM defined disorder could include a lot of things well short of being schizophrenic.

 

[Dave L]

Interesting study. But is that study related to "hearing and seeing things" that aren't there? I mean, a DSM defined disorder could include a lot of things well short of being schizophrenic.

I can't go beyond what the article says. But I've see some really crazy people in those circles. Whether they attract them or make them that way remains a mystery to me.

 

[fhansen]

Most think seeing things that aren't there spells trouble. Hearing voices too. Religious affiliation and psychiatric disorder among Protestant baby boomers. - PubMed - NCBI

And your response could come off as a lack of faith that God can make Himself known supernaturally in this world, for His purposes, siding with secularists and atheists on this point? Should we be hyper-rational on these kinds of things, even tho I'm sure there are lots of abusers and kooks and wannabe mystics out there? Anyway, the church has a rich history of spiritual experiences, and there are plenty of resources out there that have the character of authenticity, of truth. With our God there's really not any reason to dismiss all that as if it cannot possibly be true, or to be so gullible as to think it must all be true.

 

[Yekcidmij]

I can't go beyond what the article says. But I've see some really crazy people in those circles. Whether they attract them or make them that way remains a mystery to me.

Ok.

I took the OP's question differently and more along the lines of: why doesn't God reveal himself [in a way that anyone could see, reasonably believe, and that wasn't just in your head]? Maybe you're right though. Maybe he intended it to have a more charismatic meaning. I dunno.

 

[Root of Jesse]

It's true. God has revealed himself to those who have asked for it since the beginning of creation. There are many instances of God revealing himself in the Bible plus, there are many accounts of people in recent times who have seen Jesus. Myself included, I asked for proof of God's existence back when I first became a Christian and that very night I saw the silhouette of Christ and I saw my whole born again experience. Including the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It was a vision that could have ONLY come from God so from that very day throughout eternity I believe/believed in God. So I guess you could say God revealing himself to me is the final nail in the coffin for believing in his existence.

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why? And, if God does reveal himself to somebody does that make them special or something to God? Does God only show himself to people whom he considers to be special? Or is there something else to it? Like, he only reveals himself to Christians first of all or those who want to become Christians. Or maybe he only reveals himself to those who are a part of his plan and could tell the world of his existence. Like those who have claimed to have gone to hell and come back and actually had a talk with Jesus.

Naturally for God to reveal himself it has to be part of God's grand plan. Like when God revealed himself to Moses it was so that Israel could be freed from slavery. And when God revealed himself to Abraham it was so that it could enhance Abraham's faith more ..etc. But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

God does reveal himself to everyone, and he answers every prayer. We may not always like what God tells us, or how he answers our prayer.

 

[Root of Jesse]

Because his way of revealing himself to mankind was through the Bible. It is available to everyone, and it is the same for everyone, so that various claims by individuals (often in conflict with each other) about private visits or personal revelations or alleged prophesies from God are not what the whole of society has to rely upon.

He revealed himself personally to Abraham and Moses. He does so to each of us, with or without the Bible.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Because his way of revealing himself to mankind was through the Bible. It is available to everyone, and it is the same for everyone, so that various claims by individuals (often in conflict with each other) about private visits or personal revelations or alleged prophesies from God are not what the whole of society has to rely upon.

I can see that argument. But there has been many holy writings over the course of creation. Why do we know that the bible is the actual word of God?

Like we know that Jesus is the God of the universe because scripture says so but where is the evidence aside from our faith that this is truth? And what about people who have never heard of the bible or of Jesus but are genuinely seeking God? Shouldn't God reveal himself to them? Like say for example that an Indian tribe in Africa prays to God every single day. Yet they do not know who God genuinely is. They just worship God (and probably false Gods as it is further angering God more) shouldn't God reveal himself to them so that they can worship the true God and creator of the universe? You would think that the true creator of the universe would want the entire world to worship him instead of so many cultures and religions worshipping false Gods and false religious practices.

I mean you could argue that it is our job as Christian's to introduce these people to God like Paul did to the Roman's and Greeks but humans can only do so much. God can do anything. Yet it seems like God only reveals himself to those whom he chooses to reveal himself to. To me that's kind of inefficient and it gives atheists an argument for God doesn't exist. Because if God existed he would reveal himself to the world. One day Chrjsg will do that but in the meantime we're just waiting for his return.

 

[Neostarwcc]

All of creation reveals God.

To us. But to an atheist or one who doesn't know Jesus it doesn't reveal anything. Plus creation is only evidence of a God. It isn't evidence for the Trinity.

For evidence of the Trinity one would have to either be lucky enough for God to reveal himself to them or would have to believe in the bible.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Possible?
Causes of unanswered prayer:

• Disobedience
• Secret sin
• Indifference
• Neglect of mercy
• Not treating one's wife right
• Despising the law
• Blood-guiltiness
• Iniquity
• Stubbornness
• Instability
• Self-indulgence
• He has something better in mind
• He intends to use our situation to glorify Him
• more

If you need a vs. for one of these I have them. Please ask. No time now.

Also, sometimes we ask amiss (out of God's will for US, individually) and do not receive;

• Facing the cross Jesus asked Father, God, to "let this cup pass" AND He added, "not my will but thy will be done." The cup did NOT pass.
• In wrestling with his "thorn in the flesh" the Apostle Paul prayed/pleaded three times for God to take the thorn away. God did not. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

God is not our jeanie in a box to do as we please. We are His bond servants to do as He pleases and to submit to His will.

I wasn't trying to make God a genie in a box but I was trying to to say that to the truly repentant heart God should reveal himself to them. Or at least give them a sign of some sort to say "here I am! I exist! Come worship me!"

Like there are instances like mine where I went from an atheist to a Christian in about 10 years time. I definitely didn't choose God but God chose me. And when I asked God for evidence that he existed after my conversion he gave it to me.

But many people are not that lucky. Many people seek God and genuinely can use a sign to help solidify their faith and God gives them nothing. Like he desires to be worshipped by those who have faith in what isn't seen. And while I did not see Jesus's glorified body or actually get to talk to him I did see enough to make me a believer for all eternity. God does exist. Not just because the Bible tells me so but because I've seen God and the power of God with my own two eyes. To me that is the strongest evidence and so many more people in the world would worship God if he would only reveal himself to them.

 

[Neostarwcc]

I do not personally know someone you are talking about; so there is no way I can say, about that individual. I do understand that God has specific ways and plans with every human on this earth.

So, one short answer is it is not His plan for that person.

Also, possibly God knows what is really behind that person's asking. He knows if the person will submit to Him and deny oneself and take up one's cross and follow Jesus > Luke 9:23 < or if the person is not really interested in obeying God, but maybe is only curious or just wants to be able to tell oneself that he or she believes in God while the person does not do all which Jesus says to do.

Also, there are people who want to disprove God; so they make their gestures, asking Him to show Himself, but they are looking for an excuse to not obey Him, and so they can debate against Him, saying they asked but He did not answer.

But He is always answering the proud >

"God resists the proud" (in James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).

He is always proving Himself to every person, somehow, by His resistance or His grace.

That's the best answer so far! That I can swallow. But why isn't it in Gods plan? Scripture says that God desires the whole world to be saved. Well if God made one large public appearance than the whole world would worship him and believe in him! The whole world can be saved if God would just reveal himself to the world. Obviously this isn't in Gods plan. There is a reason why. There is a reason why before God formed the world that he only chose some and didn't choose others for salvation. Goc chose each and every person whom he fore knew would believe in his son and would come to him for salvation. Idk its just weird. But great post anyway.

 

[Neostarwcc]

God does reveal himself to everyone, and he answers every prayer. We may not always like what God tells us, or how he answers our prayer.

Are you referring to his second coming? Because last I checked God hasn't made one big grand entrance. The last time Gid revealed himself to the world in the bible was when Christ we went to the cross and even then most people didn't believe in him.

It seems like today he only reveals himself to Christians and those he chose for salvation.

 

[Neostarwcc]

I can't go beyond what the article says. But I've see some really crazy people in those circles. Whether they attract them or make them that way remains a mystery to me.

I believe them. There are probably some people who made up encounters with christ to sell books and whatnot (God will judge t by em for that) but for the most part I believe that even today Christ appears to people like he appeared to the apostles and saul.

 

[com7fy8]

Yes, I believe God foreknew and all that.

But why isn't it in Gods plan? Scripture says that God desires the whole world to be saved.

It is good you know God's word says God desires for the whole world to be saved. This means He wants us to desire all the good we can for any and all people . . . even though we know there are ones who will not take good advantage of our loving them. Love "hopes all things" > in 1 Corinthians 13:7. Jesus suffered and died on Calvary, with hope for any evil person, at all. So, this is how we need to love - - - so we are sharing with Jesus >

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)

But, again, even so > yes, God already knows it all, plus He controls it all as much as can be controlled. This is reality. Fairness has nothing to do with it. Even so, God does not desire that any perish. He loves; so He does not want anyone to perish. But there is reality, there is the spirit of evil (Ephesians 2:2), and so there needs to be a flaming sewer which burns with fire and brimstone, for keeping Satan's evil and horrible spirit there. And there are vessels for keeping it in control.

Don't be a sewer bucket, then, and be an example of love so you can help people to be vessels of God's love and goodness. God uses good example, more than smart talk and arguing So, you can fire me and do fine

Well if God made one large public appearance than the whole world would worship him and believe in him!

Have you read how the rich man went to hell and Lazarus went to Abrahams' bosom? The rich guy said he wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to warn the rich guy's brothers about hell. And Abraham said, no way can that work > even if someone rose from the dead, those brothers will not believe.

And hasn't Satan already been right in the presence of Jesus Himself? And how much good did Satan get out of that?? Our character has a lot to do with what we believe and do. Our character in a way is our dictator of what we choose and will and do. We can not change our own character > only God can.

And so it is "logical" to totally trust and depend on Christ for all we need with God. This includes any willingness that will work >

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

So, the Bible says "Rest in the LORD" > in Psalm 37:7. You can see, maybe, just what is meant then by resting in Jesus. We simply rest and ride in His grace . . . like how in the resurrection we will not provide any energy from our own selves to have all God shares with us.

 

[Dave L]

I believe them. There are probably some people who made up encounters with christ to sell books and whatnot (God will judge t by em for that) but for the most part I believe that even today Christ appears to people like he appeared to the apostles and saul.

I don't believe he does. Mainly because the last Apostle was John.

 

[Dave L]

And your response could come off as a lack of faith that God can make Himself known supernaturally in this world, for His purposes, siding with secularists and atheists on this point? Should we be hyper-rational on these kinds of things, even tho I'm sure there are lots of abusers and kooks and wannabe mystics out there? Anyway, the church has a rich history of spiritual experiences, and there are plenty of resources out there that have the character of authenticity, of truth. With our God there's really not any reason to dismiss all that as if it cannot possibly be true, or to be so gullible as to think it must all be true.

Scripture does not support today's claims made by Charismatics unless tampered with.