In Greek mythology, the Oracle of Delphi would give cryptic “prophecies” to those who visited her. When Croesus, the king of Lydia, visited her, he wanted advice before fighting the Persians. The king was told, “If you cross the river, a great empire will fall.” Empowered by the prophecy, Croesus boldly went into battle…and lost. The great empire that fell was his own. The Oracles of Delphi were well-known for giving mixed, incomplete messages that most of the time got reinterpreted in retrospect.
Is this how God works as well?
Some people approach God in prayer or in Bible study with the same mindset. They pray about something and then wait for a response while worrying that they might miss a subtle, mysterious answer. Others may go to the Bible and find an interesting verse that sounds like a solution to their situation but close their Bible and wonder why God is not clearer.
Is the God of the Bible more like the Oracle of Delphi or is He something greater? The Bible teaches that God is a father who cares for his children (Matthew 7:7–11). He is like a loving spouse who cares for his bride (Ezekiel 16; Hosea; Ephesians 5:25–27). He is a just king whose commandments are true, just, and right (Psalm 19). If God is all these things and more, why is it easy to feel like we do not know him or that he does not care for us?
We must remember that God is not like us (Isaiah 55:8; Numbers 23:19; Proverbs 3:5–8). Many things about God are unknowable (Deuteronomy 29:29), but what He has told us is what we need (2 Peter 1:3). It would be a misunderstanding about God’s nature to assume that he needs to operate on our time or to our expectations. This might be why we try to find an answer in the rustling of the leaves or the scanning of a page. God wants us to make our requests known to him (Philippians 4:6), but then we must trust that He will do what needs to be done (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24). God does not trade in deceptive words or empty promises. He operates on his terms, in his own timing, according to his standard. When we remember this, we will see God more clearly for who He is and know that He will not lead us away or abandon us (2 Corinthians 4:7–18).
Billy Camp
Dalraida church of Christ is a congregation of Christians that meet in the mid-town area of Montgomery, Alabama. Our goal and purpose is to seek and follow God and His Word in everything that we do in life.