Years ago the Seventh-day Adventists had 27 funda-mental beliefs but now there are 28. “God does exist, but we cannot scientifically prove this, as Maths do to describe the axioms or physical principles or Maths postulates. We just know that God exists but none can show it by any scientific formula to demonstrate this. We know by faith alone.” This was a declaration of an SDA Pastor, my Lecturer at U.A.Go (Université Adventist de Goma), the Adventist University of Goma, in 2007, where I studied Psychology and Education Sciences. This lecturer was an Adventist pastor who is still alive today. The subject was “Biblical doctrine” on the chapter on “GOD.” Is it true that we cannot show or prove the existence of God?
Have you ever been asked this question by others or have you asked yourself—”Where is God?” I am sure that this question has been, and is still being asked, in all corners of the world. But, why? For two reasons. On one side, this question is asked by those who do not believe in the existence of God. Because they do not see Him, they say, “I am not sure that God exists. Where is He so that I can believe in Him?” This was asked by Pharaoh: “And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” He responded in this way after meeting with the two brothers. “Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.” In other words, Pharaoh said, “Where is that Jehovah God? I want to see Him; then will I believe and obey His voice.” Exodus 5:1–2
However, on the other side, “Where is God?” is asked by people who really believe strongly in His existence. They may know that God exists, and that He loves them. However, when hardships, issues, problems, privation, persecution, disappointment, loss, abrupt changes, etc. come, they ask this question. A father who has one son, the only begotten son, asks with tears and sorrow, “Where was the Lord when my son died in an accident?”
Where is My God?
When do people usually look for God? In good times? During hardship and privation? When do you look for God yourself? Every day, all the time? Or only during specific situations when you are tempted to ask, “is God with me?”
Gideon asked the same question. “And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” Judges 6:13. Where was the Lord who did numerous miracles in the wilderness? At that time “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of the Midian prevailed against Israel.” They took everything from them. “And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.” They said, “where is God?” See Judges 6:1–14
Here we read that Gideon asked: I want to see God. “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him!”
Many times I hear people say, “If I could see God, I could ask Him some questions.” Have you ever thought the same? Have you met people who want to see God and ask Him some hard questions for which they see no answer?
In the Bible, Job had ten children: Seven sons and three daughters. He was very rich: seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she asses and a very great household. This man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
He suffered much after losing all his property, and burying all his ten children who died one day, remaining alone with his wife. Job considered that he was upright, because the Bible says he “was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” He was then tempted to ask “Where is God”? “Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke [hand] is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat! I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.” Job 23:2–5
The Lord, in His providence, brings men where He can test their moral powers and reveal their motives of action, that they may improve what is right in themselves and put away that which is wrong. . . . He often permits the fire of affliction to assail them that they may become purified.” –Counsels for the Church, p. 54. “God is the refiner and purifier of souls; in the heat of the furnace the dross is separated forever from the true silver and gold of the Christian character.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 85
At times when we experience difficulties, we believe that God is not near. This was a temptation to Job, and it is still a strong weapon that Satan uses to tempt God’s people to lose faith.
Job could say, “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him.” Job 23:8–9. He recognized that God is trying him, and that afterwards the reward would be great for his patience and longsuffering. “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Job did not find God behind or in front, or on his left hand… but God was with Him, at the right hand. He was not far from him. And so he said, since God is with me, even when I am in trials, “I shall come forth as gold.”
Job overcame the temptations of the devil. “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25–27
Job’s God can be our God if we truly obey, trust and believe in Him. His God was not far from Him, but was at the right hand of the faithful, suffering man amid the severest trials and privation ever known to any human recorded in the Bible. This is the same for us today. He is there when you cross the dark pages in your life. Let us lead some other examples from the Bible:
Isaac lost his mother before his marriage. Where was His God, the God of Abraham? He was without a child for around twenty years. Where was the God of Isaac? He met trials and opposition from his neighbours and even from the king of the land (read Genesis 26). As he had possession of flocks and herds, and a great store of servants (husbandry), the Philistines envied him. The Philistines had stopped all the wells that his father Abraham had dug, and they filled them with earth. This was done many times until even King Abimelech said unto Isaac, “Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.” Genesis 26:16–17. Where was his God in allowing all these issues to come upon him? God was still with him. “Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee.” Genesis 26:26–28
God is with His people, His faithful ones, even if you cannot see Him. Even if no special miracle is done to prove that the Almighty is there, He is. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and He will guide your steps in wisdom, and your interests will be safe for this world and for the next.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 427
Jacob left his father’s house and went to live with his uncle, Laban. His life was not easy there. “Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.” Genesis 28:20–22
Laban changed Jacob’s wages many times, but Jacob trusted that God was with him in all his trials. “Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah. . . . And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.” Genesis 31:4–5 (Read Genesis 31)
Joseph was hated by his older brothers and one day they said: “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” Genesis 37:20. The dreams that came from God stated that Joseph would rule over his brothers. As hard as they tried, they were not able to stop the fulfillment of these dreams. He whom God has blessed, none could curse. God was with him, even though there was no special miracle, audible or visible, to save him. God allowed them to cast Him into a pit where anything could happen (to be hurt, to die by hunger, to be bitten by a snake or scorpion, maybe some of them could even stone him afterwards…), but God was with him. They finally sold him; yet God was still with him. In the house of Potiphar, the Lord was at his right hand. Where was God when Potiphar’s wife lied that he attempted to lie with her?
Nothing could be proven and Joseph was innocently accused. “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.” Where was His God? “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Genesis 39:20–22. Even in prison God was with him. He finally proved that Jehovah is greater than the Egyptian gods: from the prison, he was made prime minister and an honoured leader over the land, because he was blameless. Even though he passed through many trials, he was upright in all and forgave his wicked brothers who attempted to kill him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. Joseph saw everything positively, and thus was rewarded.
Daniel was taken prisoner when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 506 BC, but God did not leave him. He was still with Him. When, because of the jealousy of the Chaldeans, the King was deceived into making a decree that put Daniel in danger, his Redeemer was there. He was cast into the lion’s den, but God went with him. The jealous Chaldeans only wanted to catch Daniel. The king, however, said, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. In the morning, the king spake, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me.” Daniel 6:16, 20–22
We know that we serve a living God as we see from Daniel’s experience. We need to believe and trust that He will not forsake us, whatever may happen. We may not see Him, we may be put into prison innocently, be put under oppression when we have done nothing wrong, we may even die, but God is still with us. It is possible to die with, and in, Him.
Dear reader, in all your trials, “you have a work to do to die to self and to cultivate a spirit of forbearance and patience.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 424
Jeremiah, a prophet, was taken “and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” Jeremiah 38:6. Where was the God of this prophet? Have you been in one or another difficult situation? The Lord was still with His prophet in the dungeon; there was no water, but mire. When Jeremiah had sunk into the mire, God was with him. This is a big lesson for us. How many of us get discouraged and say, “Where is that God?” “God has abandoned me.” “If God is with me, why has this… or that happened?
This is the key to overcoming sin and trusting in God: “In order to be conformed to the image of our Saviour, we pass through a most painful process of refining. . . . We may be tested and proved, for God sees it best to put us under a course of discipline which is essential for us before we are fit subjects for the blessing we crave. We should not become discouraged and give way to doubt, and think that our prayers are not noticed. We should rely more securely upon Christ and leave our case with God to answer our prayers in His own way. God has not promised to bestow His blessings through the channels we have marked out. God is too wise to err and too regardful of our good to allow us to choose for ourselves. The plans of God are always the best, although we may not always discern them. Perfection of Christian character can be obtained only through labor, conflict, and self-denial.” –The Upward Look, p. 109
The Presence of God
In the hidden room where adultery could have taken place, Joseph saw God’s presence and said, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9. Amid his severe suffering, Job saw God. When God asked him hard questions, he humbled himself and recognized that God is everywhere (Job 41). God was in the fiery furnace where three young people were cast. They cast in three, but Jesus was the fourth one in the fire. They said, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:24–25
“We must let patience have its perfect work, remembering that there are precious promises in the Scriptures for those who wait upon the Lord.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 231
God exists and is present. Even if no miracle is performed to prove God’s existance to the people who mock the righteous, He will stand, sooner or later. In the fires of life, in the forest where no human eye can see, in the plane flying in the clouds over the land, in the water underneath, He is there. Jonah was cast into the big sea, to hide from God; but remember, all creation is there to obey and to serve Him for His glory. The big fish swallowed him. Therefore, where is God?
He is everywhere. But why does He allow hardships, privation, etc. to His children? Does He wish that they suffer and endure hardships? We must be looking to Jesus through everything. The inspired word says, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
Christians may look to Jesus during happy times, but complain and even blame God when suffering comes. Remember that God allows suffering as one of the means to strengthen our faith and fulfill his purpose? We must maintain our faith, our trust, our faithfulness, —and our determination to be all that we can be in service to our God. When traveling through life’s experiences, Peter advises, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” 1 Peter 4:13
You can see God beyond the clouds of life. Even in darkness, there is still His light. This requires wisdom. When Jesus was born, some wise men looked and found Him in “darkness” where others could not see Him. But, because they were wise, they looked and saw Him through “His star.” “Let us look at the light behind the cloud. Our happiness comes not from what is around us, but from what is within us; not from what we have, but from what we are.” –My Life Today, p. 185–186
What precious lessons do you learn when you discover from the life of Job who looked for God when He was already with him? Doing what is right, will ensure us that God is always near us. His promises are to help us. “I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” Psalm 16:8–9
May God help each of us to have meekness as defined here: “Meekness is a precious grace, willing to suffer silently, willing to endure trials. Meekness is patient and labors to be happy under all circumstances. Meekness is always thankful and makes its own songs of happiness, making melody in the heart to God. Meekness will suffer disappointment and wrong, and will not retaliate.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 335
Why Tribulations? Why does God permit trials to come upon us?
“In Christian experience, the Lord permits trials of various kinds to call men and women to a higher order of living and to a more sanctified service. Without these trials there would be a continual falling away from the likeness of Christ, and men would become imbued with a spirit of scientific, fanciful, human philosophy, which would lead them to unite with Satan’s followers.“ –Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 160
To every Christian it is said: “‘In the world ye shall have tribulation,” says Christ; but “in Me ye might have peace.” John 16:33
“The trials to which Christians are subjected in sorrow, adversity, and reproach are the means appointed of God to separate the chaff from the wheat. Our pride, selfishness, evil passions, and love of worldly pleasure must all be overcome; therefore God sends us afflictions to test and prove us, and show us that these evils exist in our characters. We must overcome through His strength and grace, that we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ‘For our light affliction,’ says Paul, ‘which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.’ Afflictions, crosses, temptations, adversity, and our varied trials are God’s workmen to refine us, sanctify us, and fit us for the heavenly garner.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 115
Character Building
“It may be that much work needs to be done in your character building, that you are a rough stone, which must be squared and polished before it can fill a place in God’s temple. You need not be surprised if with hammer and chisel God cuts away the sharp corners of your character until you are prepared to fill the place He has for you. . . . He knows your infirmities and works to restore, not to destroy.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 264
“The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 471
“God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love. It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 129
“The Lord permits trials in order that we may be cleansed from earthliness, from selfishness, from harsh, unchrist-like traits of character. . . . Often we enter the furnace of trial with our souls darkened with selfishness; but if patient under the crucial test, we shall come forth reflecting the divine character.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 174
“God would have His servants become acquainted with their own hearts. In order to bring to them a true knowledge of their condition, He permits the fire of affliction to assail them, so that they may be purified. The trials of life are God’s workmen to remove the impurities, infirmities, and roughness from our characters, and fit them for the society of pure, heavenly angels in glory…. The fire will not consume us, but only remove the dross, and we shall come forth seven times purified, bearing the impress of the Divine.” –My Life Today, p. 92
“Not in freedom from trial, but in the midst of it, is Christian character developed.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 330
During the hard times, it is our duty to strengthen one another. “In this time of trial we need to be encouraged and comforted by one another. The temptations of Satan are greater now than ever before, for he knows that his time is short and that very soon every case will be decided, either for life or for death. It is no time now to sink down beneath discouragement and trial; we must bear up under all our afflictions and trust wholly in the Almighty God of Jacob. The Lord has shown me that His grace is sufficient for all our trials; and although they are greater than ever before, yet if we trust wholly in God, we can overcome every temptation and through His grace come off victorious.
“If we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next. . . . When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy.” –Early Writings, p. 46
Conclusion—Where is God?
God is with me, with you, and with all. It is our duty to please Him always by obeying His word. It may come to pass that we go through trials and temptations. At all times God is with us. There may come a time that you are tempted to doubt: “is God still near me?” But, He is. “Words cannot describe the peace and joy possessed by him who takes God at His word. Trials do not disturb him, slights do not vex him. Self is crucified. Day by day his duties may become more taxing, his temptations stronger, his trials more severe; but he does not falter; for he receives strength equal to his need.” –My Life Today, p. 51
A bitter cup may be given you. “God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. But those who receive it thus must have another draught, for the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not effect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored and glorified. It is no small thing to be a Christian and to be owned and approved of God.” –Early Writings, p. 47
King David suffered many times when Saul sought to kill him. He even fled from his anger and his life was in danger for a long time. But He could still sing:
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass… But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37: 3–7, 11
Do not weep. We often do not see God because we are mourning, as did Mary after the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday morning. “In the garden Mary had stood weeping, when Jesus was close beside her. Her eyes were so blinded by tears that she did not discern Him. . . How many echo Mary’s despairing cry, ‘They have taken away the Lord, … and we know not where they have laid Him.’ To how many might the Saviour’s words be spoken, ‘Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?’ He is close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him. . . . Mourn not as those who are hopeless and helpless.” –My Life Today, p. 183
Let us remember that God who joined His servants in the furnace of fire, who was with all the patriarchs in their hard times, has been with you also in all. Only your tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him, as it was with Mary. He was in the deepest sea when Jonah was swallowed by the whale. Job was not forgotten nor forsaken. In all the steps of Joseph, Jacob, Jephthah, and many other faithful patriarchs, He was there. May God help us all to see His presence everywhere, at all times, and in all circum-stances. Amen.
By Victor Shumbusho, DR Congo