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AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for an Understanding

 

An Omnipresent God

Lesson #6

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The Bible says that the heavens cannot contain God (I Kings 8:27).

 

But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee…

 

B.      The omnipresence of God signifies that He cannot be contained by the largest space possible. While God does not have spatial limitations, He is not a ‘bigger space’ or a layer area surrounding the space of the universe as we comprehend it. He does not simply exist in a kind of infinite, unending space. God is present to all space. This does not mean that ‘at least a little part of God’ is dispersed throughout the infinite reaches of space. Instead, God in His whole being is present at every point of our space. All space is instantly present before Him”

(https://www.allaboutgod.com/omnipresence-of-god.htm).

 

C.     If the heavens cannot contain God, the temples of man certainly cannot either.

1.      I Kings 8:27

 

…how much less this house I have builded.

 

2.      Acts 17:24

 

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with men’s hands.

 

D.    God is everywhere at all time in His fullness.

1.      Omni – all             Present:  being, exist, there

2.      NOTE:  There is not a place that God is not.

3.      In Genesis 16:13, Hagar called God “a God of seeing,” El-roi.

 

And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me:  for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

 

E.      In this lesson, we want to consider this omnipresent God.

1.      We “understand” God is omnipresent.

2.      However, to fully comprehend it is impossible for man to do.

 

I.                   VERSES THAT TELL OF THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD

 

A.    Job 34:21

 

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

 

 

 

B.      Psalm 139:3, 7-9

 

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways…Wither shall I go from thy Spirit?  or wither 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 I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 

C.     Proverbs 15:3

 

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

 

D.    Hebrews 4:13

 

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:  but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

 

II.                THERE IS NO ESCAPING GOD

 

A.    Man does many things trying to escape God.

1.      He denies Him.

2.      He tries to hide from Him.

3.      He tries to cover up.

4.      He tries to camouflage himself or his sin.

5.      He hopes the darkness will dim God’s vision.

 

B.      None of these things are possible.

1.      Adam tried to hide in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:8-10).

 

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:  and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

 

2.      Darkness cannot hide us from God (Ps. 139:11-12).

 

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day:  the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

 

3.      Jonah fled from the presence of God, but God knew exactly where he was (Jonah 1).

4.      Jeremiah 23:24

 

Can any man hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?  saith the Lord.  Do not I fill heaven and earth?  saith the Lord.

 

III.             WE “THINK” GOD DOES NOT SEE

 

A.    This is true when we sin.  It is also true when we are suffering.

 

B.      This happens in the psalms several times.

1.      Psalm 13:1

 

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?  for ever?  how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2.      Psalm 89:46

 

How long, Lord?  wilt thou hide thyself for ever?  shall thy wrath burn like fire?

 

C.     God does see.

1.      Jacob (Gen. 31:11-12)

 

And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob:  And I said, Here am I.  And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled:  for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

 

2.      The people of Israel (Exo. 3:7)

 

And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.

 

3.      Hezekiah (Isa. 38:4-5)

 

Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears:  behold, I will add unto they days fifteen years.

 

IV.             THE THINGS GOD SEES

 

A.    God sees the simple things.

1.      The sparrow that falls to the ground (Matt. 10:29).

 

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?  And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your
Father.

 

2.      The cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple (Matt. 10:42)

 

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

 

B.      God sees our struggles.

1.      Hagar’s helplessness (Gen. 16:6-8)

2.      Elijah’s discouragement (I Kings 19:9)

3.      The sparrow that falls (Matt. 10:29, 31)

4.      Lazarus’ death (John 11:11-14)

 

C.     God sees our sins.

1.      Adam’s sin (Gen. 3:8-11)

2.      The tower of Babel (Gen. 11:5)

3.      Israel at Sinai (Exo. 32:7-9)

4.      Achan’s stolen goods (Josh. 7:10-11)

5.      Saul’s disobedience (I Sam. 15:10-11)

6.      David’s transgression (II Sam. 12:1, 7-9)

7.      Jonah’s rebellion (Jonah 1:9-12)

8.      Israel and the Lord’s house (Jer. 7:11)

9.      Judas’ betrayal (John 13:21, 26-27)

10.  Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

11.  Saul (Acts 9:4-5)

 

D.    God sees our service:  To every one of the seven churches of Asia, Jesus said:  “I know thy works” (Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15).

 

V.                THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES VIEW OF GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE

 

A.    The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that when the Bible says that God dwells in heaven that there is literally a space in which He resides.

 

B.      “The Bible therefore indicates that there is no need for Jehovah God literally to be everywhere.  Through the operation of his holy spirit and through his angelic forces, he is able to be fully aware of what is happening with regard to his creation”

(https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/g201104/Is-God-Omnipresent/).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Psalm 32:8

 

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:  I will guide thee with mine eye.

 

B.      There is not a moment of life that God is not looking upon us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Omnipresent God

Lesson #6

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

1.      What picture comes to your mind’s eye when you hear that the heavens cannot contain God (I Kings 8:27)?

 

2.      T- F     This statement is difficult to comprehend:  “God in His whole being is present at

every point of our space.  All space is instantly present before Him.”

 

3.      When do you really stop to think:  “God is watching”?

 

4.      Which of the four verses that we set forth that speak of the omnipresence of God do you like the most?

 

5.      T – F    Man tries to escape God.  If true, why does he do this?

 

6.      T – F    I have tried to escape God before.  If true, how?

 

7.      Has there ever been a time in your life that you thought God was not watching with love and concern for you?  If yes, when?

 

8.      We noted that God sees the simple things.  There are many simple things in all of our lives.  What simple thing that God sees in your life brings you joy or comfort because he does see?

 

9.      Has there been a time in your life when you knew that God was watching your struggles and suffering?  If yes, when?

 

10.  We know God sees our sins.  However, this does not always keep us from sinning.  Why?

 

11.  What do you think of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ view of God’s omnipresence?

 

12.  What do you feel the most when you contemplate the fact that God is always watching your life?