7 Powerful Ways God Reveals Himself in the Bible

Part of Jesus’ ministry on Earth was to represent God to the world. As He explained it to His disciple, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). And as we read through the Gospels, it becomes clear that God reveals Himself through what His Son did and taught.

Jesus shows us God’s character 

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep’” (Luke 15:4-6).

Jesus shows us God’s Kingdom

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46).

Jesus shows us what kind of attitude pleases God 

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:10-13).

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In certain Scripture passages, God is given titles, such as “Creator” in Isaiah 20:48. Each one of these describes an attribute He has or an action He takes, usually on behalf of His people. By including these names, God reveals more about who He is and encourages us to draw closer.

Jehovah Jireh (Our Provider)

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided’” (Genesis 22:14).

Jehovah Shalom (Our peace)

“So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace” (Judges 6:24).

Jehovah Rapha (Our Healer)

“He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you’” (Exodus 15:26).

3. Through Straightforward Instruction 

Our Heavenly Father has called His people to be “a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” (1 Peter 2:9) and books like Proverbs and the letters of Paul give us clear guidelines for living that way. In these verses, God reveals His plan for us to stand out from unbelievers by how we think, speak and act:

Having the kind of character that honors Him 

“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Proverbs 29:20).

Making sure our churches and congregations worship Him only

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16).

Seeking to represent and glorify Him to others around us

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

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Proverbs 21:1 says that “In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water,” but He also gives us free will. Books like Deuteronomy, Kings and Chronicles present rulers of Israel and Judah, and the choices they made. God uses this history to reveal His high standard for kings – actually anyone in leadership – and how it effects those around us.

The command for rulers to be closely aligned with Him

“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

The call for rulers to obey Him so others might be blessed

“Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook” (2 Kings 18:5-7).

5. Through Love Stories and Poems

Song of Songs 8:7 says that “Many waters cannot quench love.” And Psalm 36 calls God’s love “priceless.” The descriptions of romance and love in these books reflect the passion the Lord feels for us. He reveals a longing to have relationship with us, and how far He will go to capture our hearts.

He shows an immeasurable love for us 

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15).

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” (Song of Songs 6:3).

He commits to walking with us through every circumstance

“You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way” (Psalm 18:35-36).

He delights in providing us with good gifts

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10).

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God spoke to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:4). He is intentional about the talents and abilities He gives, and firm about how they are to be used. In these stories, God reveals that He wants believers to help build His Kingdom, and that He will always equip us for the work.

He provides what we need to do the task and succeed

“But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I have put my words in your mouth’” (Jeremiah 1:7-9).

He wants us to trust in Him to make our path 

“At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’ Daniel answered, ‘May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty’” (Daniel 6:19-22).

He will strengthen us along the way

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).

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In Job 5:9, it says “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” Thankfully, some are recorded in Scripture so we can behold God’s grace in action. Whether done directly by Him, by Jesus, or through men, God has used these feats to reveal a glimpse of His awesome power and majesty.

His sovereignty over nature

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left” (Exodus 14:21-22).

His compassion for the hurting

“Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong” (Acts 3:2-7).

His ability to change hearts

“So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go’” (John 11:41-44).

This is just a sampling of what Paul called “the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God” that we can gain from studying the Bible. He is ready and waiting to reveal Himself - let’s boldly seek Him.

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