God Worked Directly with People

God Worked Directly With

People in the Past

Stephen M Golden

God has worked directly with or responded directly to people on an individual basis many times in the past––even in New Testament times. There is no reason to assume He cannot and does not today whenever He deems it necessary.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

In the Old Testament

Enoch

Methuselah

Noah

Abraham [Acts 7:2 appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia,]

Melchisidek

Moses

Job

Jonah -the people of Nineveh

Jethro -Priest of Midian

Balam

Amorites -Genesis 15:16

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

In the New Testament

• Magi from the East Matthew 2:1-12

• Cornelius Acts chapter 10

• People of Macedonia

Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

• Ethiopian Eunuch

• God had people in Corinth unknown to Paul:

Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

Paul further validates this truth:

Acts 17:26-30 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.…29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

This is God reaching out to individuals. This does not contradict Jesus’ statement that no man comes to the Father but through the Son.

Paul indicates God's acknowledgment of those who seek Him

Romans 2:14-16 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.