Don Stewart :: If the God of the Bible Exists, Then Why Is He Silent?

If the God of the Bible Exists, Then Why Is He Silent?

Does the God of the Bible Exist? – Question 24

During the mid-1960’s, there was much interest in a philosophical movement that believed that God was dead. Is God dead? The question certainly is a valid one.

The answer is a resounding, “No.” God is alive and working His will in the universe. If this is true, then why don’t we hear from Him? Why is God silent? Why doesn’t He reveal Himself so everyone can see Him? Why does He remain invisible to all of us? Four points need to be made in answer to this question.

1. God Has Spoken in the Past

To begin with, God has spoken. The Bible records the fact that from the beginning of creation God has revealed Himself to humanity. The Bible says God is not silent. He has spoken. He has revealed Himself in history. Each page of the Old and New Testament gives evidence of this God revealing Himself. The climax to God’s revelation was when He became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible says,

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1, 2 NRSV)

Until the time that Jesus Christ came to the earth, God had been continually speaking to humanity. Once Jesus Christ appeared, God had finished speaking to humanity in a direct way.

2. God Is Not Completely Silent: He Speaks through His Word

Since the time of Christ, and the writing of the New Testament documents, there has been no additional revelation from God. The writing of divinely inspired Scripture ended with the writings of Christ’s apostles, and those in their circle. God has been silent in that sense from the time of Jesus Christ until the present. Yet, He left behind a clear witness of Himself in Scripture.

3. God Will Speak Publicly Again: Jesus Christ Will Return

God is not presently speaking to humanity in an outward manner. The next time God will publicly intervene in the affairs of humanity is when He comes again in the Person of Jesus Christ. At that time every eye shall see Him. We read about this in the Book of Revelation.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1:7 NRSV)

This is a wonderful truth! Jesus Christ will come again to this world and set up His eternal kingdom. It will involve everyone and everything on our planet.

4. Present Silence of God Reveals His Patience

The Bible says that the present silence of God is a continual testimony to His patience with humanity. God is still waiting for people to repent of their sinful ways and come to Him in faith. Peter wrote,

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NRSV)

The Message reads as follows in this verse.

God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change. (2 Peter 3:9 MsgB)

Presently, God is calling out to people to believe in Jesus Christ. When that number is finally complete then Jesus Christ will come again. Consequently, the so-called silence of God, as has been the case since the time of Christ, will end someday.

5. We Don’t Believe Only What We Can See

There is one final point to be made. We humans do not only believe in the things which we can see. For example, we cannot see gravity but we believe that it exists. Therefore, we do not walk out of tenth-story window because we know what will happen.

Likewise, we have never seen electricity but nevertheless we believe that it exists. Consequently, we do not put our fingers into a light socket. Although we do not see things such as gravity and electricity, we do see the effect they have on our lives. Therefore, we believe in their existence though they are invisible to our human eyes.

In a similar sense, we do not see God because He is invisible. Yet He has provided sufficient reasons to believe in Him. We have the objective evidence that He has given us; miracles, fulfilled prophecy, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. These truths are sufficient for us to place our faith in Him. When we do this, He confirms our decision by the Holy Spirit who lives inside each believer. The Spirit testifies that we are God’s children.

Paul wrote to the Romans about this important truth.

...it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God... (Romans 8:16 RSV)

The Holy Spirit confirms that we are indeed the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

This is why Paul wrote the following to Timothy.

For this reason I suffer as I do. However, I’m not ashamed. I know whom I trust. I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he had entrusted to me until that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 God’s Word)

Paul knew the One in whom he had trusted. He was convinced of God’s existence as well as His loving concern for those who trust Him.

Consequently, although the believer does not visibly see Christ, nevertheless we love Him. Peter wrote the following.

Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words as you obtain the salvation that is the goal of your faith. (1 Peter 1:8-9 God’s Word)

We love Jesus Christ although we cannot see Him.

Therefore, the fact that God is invisible and that He is not presently revealing Himself to the world in a public manner does not mean He is not there or that He does not care about humanity.

He certainly is there and He does care. This is the message of Scripture and this is also the personal experience of millions of Christians.

Summary – Question 24
If the God of the Bible Exists, Then Why Is He Silent?

Many people wonder why God is not presently speaking to humanity if He does indeed exist. Why don’t we hear from Him? Some people assume this means that God does not really exist or that He is dead.

However, the God of the Bible is not dead. He not only exists, He has spoken to humanity from the very beginning. The Bible is the record of God revealing Himself to the human race. The Bible is a record of God’s dealings with humanity. Yet we now find that the Scriptures are complete and God is no longer speaking in this manner. He has said what He needs to say.

But this does not mean that God is not working. Indeed, God is still actively working His plan for the universe. The present silence of God, as far as divine revelation is concerned, is a sign of God’s patience, mercy and grace. We are now in an interim period.

God, through Jesus Christ, has promised to come to the earth again, and set up His everlasting kingdom. In the interim, He is calling out for people to believe in Him. There will come a time when His present silence will be broken and that He will return to this earth. In the meantime, God is very much alive, and He is working out His will in the entire universe.

We also must realize that we humans do not merely believe in the things which we can see. In the same manner, there are sufficient reasons to believe in God through the Person of Jesus Christ although we have never seen Him. Though we do not see Him, we know that He exists and that He is concerned for our well-being.

Those of us who believe in Jesus Christ can personally testify to this. God is indeed still alive and working in our individual lives. Time and time again He proves this to us.