Where Is God?

WHERE IS GOD?

Job 23:3-10

Ted Turner, now a professed agnostic New Ager, at one time had associated himself with Christianity. He had a testing of his profession, however, when he watched his sister die a slow, painful death by lupus. He abandoned his faith in God, not willing to believe that an all-powerful good God would allow such suffering. In his asssessment of God’s characteristics, however, Ted failed to also recognize that God is not only all-powerful and good, He is also all-knowing and wise. He, at the height of His throne, can oversee the peaks and valleys of good and evil in the world. The sovereign Creator alone can determine the best path for the creature to walk upon.

Job was a man so upright that God boasted about his integrity, in a day before a word of Scripture had been penned. His patience was praiseworthy, his integrity intact, his character with conviction, and his morality matchless. Yet suffering after suffering was permitted to invade his life by the Almighty. His property was burned and blown away, his children buried, his body boil-ridden, and his wife begged him to curse God so the Almighty smite him to die instantly. Job’s character had been seen by all, but when the time of affliction came, his friends became accusing comforters. Human reasoning could not perceive how a just God could allow suiffering on a righteous man. Surely Job had secret sin for which his sufferings were meted out as punishment.

Job is to never understand his sufferings in this life. Yet magnifying his suffering is this human wisdom that associates it with God’s disfavor. Job in examining the meaning of the intensity of his pain, cries out that he might know that where God is. Though none of us have endured the pain of Job, we have all in our time of suffering asked like Job, where is God? We, like Job, seek Him on the right hand and on the left, where He usually works but do not see Him. Like Job, we go forward but do not see Him in our future, we go backward and fail to remember the Presence in the miracles in days gone by. We cannot perceive Him, WHERE IS GOD? Job concluded that though he did not know where God is, GOD KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE, AND WHEN HE HAS TRIED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD. You see, it is not nearly as important that you know where God is, as that He knows where you are and what He is doing with your life.

Oh, let us look in Scripture to find where God is and what He is doing when His people feel He is nowhere to be found. For you see it is not an evil to ask God where He is, to seek to unerstand the greatness of God’s presence toward you. For when you do, you will be overwhelmed like David and respond, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Let us gave through the mountain peaks of prophecy to a soon-coming time when the nation of Israel will wonder WHERE IS GOD? The end-time battle is described nearly 2800 years ago by the prophet Isaiah. The small Israelite army is surrounded by the armies of the nations commanded by the antichrist’s government. From every side the are surrounded at the valley of Megiddo as the Battle of Armaggeddon is setup. As Israel stares at the enemies gathered on their southern border, toward the land of Edom, we hear the conversation in the passage in Isaiah 63. Isaiah 63:1-5

1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.