THE OCCULT GOD

A brief look at humanity and soon it is observed that it is immersed in a profound process of pain, suffering and anguish. There are wars in the world, rumors of wars, famine, disease and catastrophes. One might ask, "Where is God?" Even among Christians, even among those who live a life of devotion, in certain moments of pain and suffering, they feel an absence and silence from God. How do you understand that? Is he oblivious to human suffering? 

In fact, the Old Testament often deals with the concealment of God. Smith (2001, p.99) states that there are thirty-two references that say that God hides his face, eyes, ears, and that He is hidden. Psalm 10:1, for example, says, "whi Lord do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourselt in times of trouble?" Isaiah says, "truly you are a God who has been hiding himself, the God and Savior of Israel" (45:15). This concealment "refers primarily to their inactivity on behalf of their worshipers and the fact that God does not answer their prayers" (SMITH, 2001, p.100). 

We really don't understand God's action. Even after his revelation to the prophets and through the Son, that is, Jesus Christ, He remains a mystery. Atkinson (2009, p.295) says that "the God revelatus still remains a velatus God. Moses, Jacob, Job, the psalmists, and the prophets are all aware of the fact that God is "hidden," even in his act of revealing himself." He never shows himself in his real nature, in its essence, for He is indiscernible to the fallen mind. John, in his Revelation, upon Him could only say, "he who sits on the throne...". God is indescribable. 

According to Job, God is beyond our comprehension (37:23) and Isaiah speaks of our inability to understand his thoughts (55:8,9). We only understand him from ourselves, this is why there is an anthropomorphic language (the hand, the face, the eyes, the ear of God) in the Bible. For this reason, He revealed himself in human form in the Son. But even in this gesture, “But even in this gesture, "God don't offers us a gift lesser than himself. This is the supreme revelation, in which the hidden God is revealed. 'Whoever sees me sees the Father'" (ATKINSON, 2009, p.296).  

In addition, with respect to suffering in the world, this is inherent in the path that man took by turning away from God. The project of the fallen man is a world without God. In his madness he says: there is no God, but this has a price: pain, anguish and finitude. However, in moments of anguish he remembers the Creator, but only hears a great silence. His own fall condition prevents him from hearing God. But He did not leave humanity at the mercy of his destiny, but in Christ he set a path back to his original condition of perfection. 

But this concealment is also observed among many who call themselves Christians who, seeking their own plans, think they can tame God. He, however, "is not a prisoner of human thoughts or captives of his schemes." However, even among godly believers the concealment of God occurs, perhaps because they must walk paths alone. Jesus, on the cross, for example, felt this concealment of the Father to the point of crying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). 

Although this aspect of the Being of God, its concealment, Scripture reveals that He is sublime and loving, and attracts everyone. What, for example, does angels continually stand before him in worship? At the same time that He is a God who hides himself, He is a God who reveals himself. But the path to his presence, to his perception passes through the heart, the immaterial, the illogical, the faith. He spoke the following words to a prophet who experienced his concealment at times: "call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Antonio Maia - M. Div.

Copyright

ATKINSON, J. Novo Dicionário de Teologia. São Paulo: Hagnos, 2009

SMITH, Ralph L. Teologia do Antigo Testamento. São Paulo: Vida Nova, 2001