Throughout the Bible, there are countless examples of God directly intervening in human affairs through various miracles, signs, wonders, and direct communication. In contrast, many people today feel that God is distant or hidden from their lives. This article will examine 9 key reasons why God may seem more hidden in modern times compared to Biblical eras.
1. Lack of Major Public Miracles
In the Bible, God frequently performed public supernatural miracles as a sign of His power and presence. For example, at the Exodus from Egypt, God sent 10 dramatic plagues, parted the Red Sea, and led the Israelites by pillars of cloud and fire (Exodus 7-14). In the New Testament, Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on water, calmed storms, multiplied food, and raised the dead publicly for all to see (Matthew 8:1-4, 14:22-33, 15:32-38, John 11:38-44). The early church continued public miracle-working power through the apostles (Acts 3:1-10, 9:36-42, 28:3-6).
Today, these types of public, undeniable miracles seem rare. While God still works supernaturally, it tends to happen more quietly in individuals’ lives. The lack of constant public displays of power makes God seem more distant compared to the supernatural explosions we read about in Scripture.
2. Cessation of Direct Divine Revelations
Throughout the Bible, God directly spoke to His people through prophets, dreams, angels, His Spirit, or even audible voice. He gave specific messages, instructions, warnings, and revelation of His truth. There are hundreds of examples, like God speaking the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), guiding Joshua (Joshua 1:1-9), calling prophets like Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10-14) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8-12), educating Paul (Galatians 1:11-12), and revealing His Son to John (Revelation 1:10-20).
Today, most believers do not have this kind of direct encounter with God’s voice. Instead, we rely on the written Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While God still communicates, it is typically through more subtle impressions rather than overt conversation. This makes God seem more distant compared to the direct connections He made in Bible times.
3. Lack of Visible Divine Encounters
Throughout the Bible, God often appeared visibly and directly to His people. He appeared in a burning bush to Moses (Exodus 3:2), led the Israelites in a pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22), filled the temple with His glory (1 Kings 8:10-11), wrote on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast (Daniel 5:5-6), spoke from heaven at Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration (Matthew 3:16-17, 17:5), and blinded Paul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3-6).
Today, these visible manifestations of God’s presence and glory are extremely rare. While God is still at work, it is more discreet rather than open and visible to all. The decrease in tangible, visible experiences of God make Him seem more distant compared to how He powerfully appeared and interacted in the Bible.
4. Increased Spiritual Warfare and Darkness in Society
While sin, evil, and spiritual darkness have always been present, several Bible passages indicate that spiritual warfare and societal darkness will intensify in the end times between Christ’s first and second coming (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Peter 3:3). As a result, the influence and activity of demonic spirits and ideological attacks on Christian truth will also increase.
Today, many argue we are seeing the fulfillment of these prophecies as spiritual deception, sin, evil, and hostility to Christ increase worldwide. As spiritual warfare and darkness expand, the forces suppressing and resisting God’s presence and truth gain more ground. This makes God’s work seem more hidden from view.
5. The Holy Spirit Working More Internally in Believers
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people selectively and temporarily to empower them for service (Numbers 11:17, 25). At Pentecost, He began indwelling believers permanently (Acts 2:1-4). Rather than external manifestations of power, the emphasis shifted to the Spirit transforming believers from within.
This internal work continues today. While God still works miraculously at times, His Spirit primarily guides, convicts, teaches, and conforms believers to Christ’s image from heart-level. This invisible, inner work is real but less openly observable than the Holy Spirit’s outward displays of power in the Old Testament.
6. Christ No Longer Walking the Earth Physically
Christ’s time physically on Earth was unique. God became man (John 1:14). His words and miraculous signs announced God’s Kingdom with power and clarity (Matthew 4:23-24, Acts 2:22). After His ascension, things obviously changed. While Jesus is still active and governing His church (Ephesians 1:22-23), He is no longer with us in bodily form to teach and work wonders as during His earthly ministry.
Christ’s physical absence from creation makes God’s presence feel more mediated compared to when the Son of God walked among humans. However, Christ lives in believers spiritually (Galatians 2:20) and His second coming will bring full restoration.
7. The Bible Completed
For around 15 centuries, God progressively revealed Himself through His written Word. This revelation culminated with the coming of Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). God then inspired the rest of the New Testament through the apostles and closed the Scriptural canon.
Unlike people in Bible times, we are no longer receiving ongoing written revelation from God. The completed Scriptures are now God’s sole active voice on Earth. While illuminating, the lack of continuing revelation makes God seem more indirect compared to when He actively spoke through prophets and apostles.
8. Instituting the Church and Priesthood of All Believers
For much of Bible history, spiritual leadership was centralized. Priests mediated access to God. With Christ came decentralization. All believers are now priests who can directly approach God (1 Peter 2:9). Local churches led by faithful pastors, rather than a central temple and priesthood, became God’s new house of worship.
This shift toward organic rather than institutional faith makes God’s activity in the world seem more indirect and mediated compared to Old Testament Israel where God’s presence dwelt in the temple and worked through prophets and priests.
9. Testing the Faith of Believers
Miracles and God’s visible power were essential when introducing Himself and establishing His truth. As Scripture progressed, overt displays became less frequent. For example, miracles clustered around Moses’ leadership, then dwindled during the Judges’ era (Hebrews 2:3-4).:
Likewise today, God seems to work more discreetly. Overt miracles continue at times. But compared to the Bible’s earliest eras, they are sparse. Why does God allow this? Scripture indicates it is to test and grow believers’ faith without overwhelming physical evidence. We must trust in His Word, walk by faith in Christ, and rely on the Spirit’s inner direction (2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:6-9).
By seeming more hidden in modern times, God puts His people’s faith to the test. He wants relationship and obedience more than flashy miracles. This means walking by faith rather than sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Conclusion
The Bible clearly shows God powerfully and miraculously at work through human history. In modern times, however, His activity often appears more subtle and less overtly supernatural. Several reasons likely contribute to this contrast:
- Lack of major public miracles
- Cessation of direct divine revelations
- Lack of visible divine encounters
- Increased spiritual warfare and darkness
- The Spirit working more internally
- Christ no longer on earth physically
- The Bible being completed
- Instituting the church and priesthood of believers
- Testing the faith of believers
None of this means God is absent or powerless. Scripture promises He is still actively sustaining Creation and working in His people’s lives. However, His methods appear to have changed compared to the Bible’s earliest accounts where His miraculous power and direct interventions were frequent and public.
This requires believers to walk by faith rather than sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We must rely on the Spirit’s inner guidance through Christ-centered study of the completed Scriptures. God wants relationship and obedience more than outward signs. While testing, the seeming silence prepares believers for Christ’s eventual visible return and full restoration of creation.