Bible Study—”Where was God when I needed Him?”

Ordinarily, people in distress cry out. Their distress can be due to an incurable disease, the death of a loved one, or the loss of employment. They ask, “Where was God when I needed Him?”

The Bible is replete with personal stories of suffering. Let’s examine a few stories in the New Testament.

Cases of Jesus knowing facts beyond the limits of human senses

Case No. 1—Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

In John chapter 4:1-42, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a community water well. In conversation with the woman, Jesus reveals her marital history. She had five husbands, and she lived with a paramour.

The purpose of Jesus’ out-of-the-way trip through Samaria served to show his divine authority.

How did Jesus know intimate details about the Samaritan woman?

Case No. 2—The Death of Lazarus

John chapter 11:1-43 is the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus and his two sisters shared a close, personal relationship with Jesus. Lazarus became very ill. His sisters sent word of the sickness to Jesus.

Jesus delayed going to Lazarus, who died and was entombed in a cave. Jesus and his entourage of disciples arrived four days after Lazarus died.

Jesus approached Lazarus’ tomb and loudly said, “Lazarus, come out.” Lazarus walked out of that tomb, alive.

Case No. 3—The Healing of a Man Born Blind

John chapter 9:1-41 As Jesus moved about, his eyes caught sight of a young man blind from birth. Jesus mixed his own saliva with soil. He applied the mud to the eyes of the blind man. Then he instructed him to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam. He returned to Jesus with his eyesight fully functional.

After much civil turmoil, Jesus sought the young man he had healed. The young man worshiped Jesus.

Case No. 4—The Calling of Philip and Nathanael

John chapter 1:43-50 Jesus invited Philip to join his team of disciples. Philip discussed his encounter with Jesus. Nathanael, skeptical of Jesus, asked, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Despite his skepticism, Nathanael accepted Philip’s invitation to “come and see.” As Nathanael approaches, Jesus declares, “Here is an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” Nathanael asked Jesus how he knew him. Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael was thoroughly convinced Jesus is the Son of God.

Questions

• How did Jesus know the Samaritan woman was cohabiting with a man to whom she was not wed?
• How was it possible for Jesus to know all the details of the death of his friend Lazarus?
• How did Jesus recognize the blind young man so readily? How did he know the young man lived a sinless life?
• How did Jesus see Nathanael under the fig tree?

I leave explanations of the Holy Trinity to theologians. Instead, let’s focus on one of the names of God, Jehovah Smammah, “The Lord Is There.” Ezekiel 48:35, Matthew 28:20, Revelation 21:3, John 1:14, Psalm 34:18, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 139:1-4, Psalm 139:7-12, Psalm 121:4-6

The Lord is omnipresent. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is omniscient; we have no secrets from Him.

How did Jesus know the details of Lazarus’ sickness, his death, and his burial? How did Jesus know about the Samaritan woman’s marital history and more? How in the world did Jesus see Nathanael under that fig tree, and how did He know Nathanael’s character? How did Jesus know the blind man was not blinded by some sinful act?

The Apostle Paul addressed the idolatrous Thessalonians who had many idols including one to “The Unknown God”. Paul explained the living God.

²⁴ “God who made the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands. ²⁵ Nor is He served by men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives all men life and breath and all things. ²⁶ He has made from one blood every nation of men to live on the entire face of the earth, having appointed fixed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they should seek the Lord so perhaps they might reach for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

²⁹ “Therefore since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Deity is like gold or silver or stone or an engraved work of art or an image of the reflection of man. ³⁰ God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent. ³¹ For He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, having given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Acts 17:24-31 Modern English Version

To The Point

Jesus has all the characteristics of the Living God because He is the Living God manifested in human form.

Human nature suggests we are flesh and bone creatures with a spirit. Quite to the contrary, we are spirit beings with a temporary human body. Where in the Bible can you find this truth?

King David lusted after his neighbor’s wife, Bathsheba. They hooked up in secret; she became pregnant. David had Bathsheba’s husband killed and afterward married her. The newborn baby became sick. The Prophet Nathan explained to David that the baby’s sickness was a consequence of David’s sins. David prayed earnestly for the child to live, but the baby died on the seventh day. David did not mourn the death of the child. “He explained, “As long as the child was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me, so that the child may live.’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” Reference: 2 Samuel 12:1-23 MEV

Jesus was not a special agent. He is God. Read John 10:30-38 MEV.

God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three manifestations of the one and only Living God. He is the Creator of the universe.

John White
Rockwall, Texas