Board index ‹ God

[Cream]

In the bible, God seemed to show up on Earth quite often. But most people seem to agree that there haven't been a lot of divine acts since Jesus/Muhammed. How is this traditionally explained?

[jimwalton]

There are two main eras where God showed up: The Exodus and Jesus. Other than that, God was quietly at work in people's lives and in the course of history. The latter is what we see today, and it's basically God's m.o. He mostly works in people's hearts, and they influence life as they live their lives each day. It's no different in most of the Bible times and now.

For instance, we see God talking to Abraham 5 times, not realizing the telescoping effect of the text. All this takes place over the course of 100 years. God interacts only occasionally with Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Then we hear nothing for 400 years while the Israelites are in Egypt. After Egypt and the Conquest, the time of the Judges is God raising up occasional leaders to help the people. In the monarchy, God never appeared to David, ever. The northern kings of Israel were mostly abominable, godless people. God brings some messages from prophets, but nothing else. The southern king of Judah had a few good kings and not much else. Then for about 200 years we hear messages from prophets, but no "mighty works." Then there is 400 years of silence between the OT and Jesus. After Jesus and the apostles, life is mostly God working in hearts and then the influence of those individuals on life. No huge miracles or wonders.

The upshot is that God is doing what He always does the way He always did it. There is coming another time (era) of God showing up in huge ways: The End Times. We don't know when that will be, but it will be another era where God REALLY shows up.