GOD'S REVELATION: VARIED AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS
Throughout history, God has revealed himself to mankind and still reveals himself to them so far as the world has not come to an end. But He does that through ways which are appealing to Him and that which will help bring salvation and redemption to the whole of mankind.
God is powerful and as we know, in this world people who yields power does things which relates to greatness but not so with our God. This act of God is seen especially in the history of the Israelites when God chose among the twelve sons of Jacob the least among them (Joseph) to reveal himself to him through dreams to save the whole world from famine (Gen 41:1ff). Also He chose Moses who was a Shepherd for his father- in- law Jethro to reveal himself to and to free His people (Israelites) from slavery in Egypt (Ex 3:1ff). He (God) also chose judges (Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Sampson) to reveal himself to them and to use them to redeem His people Israelites.
In the first reading and the Gospel today, shows how God revealed himself to mankind and in the second reading through the Apostle Paul also indicates the ways God chooses to reveal himself to mankind which man cannot comprehend.
In the first reading God revealed himself to the prophet Elijah in a completely new way from the way the people of Israel were accustomed to thus a pillar of fire and clouds when He went before and after them through their journey on the desert (Ex 13:21-22), dreams (Gen28:10-17, 37:5-11) and many others. In the first reading God decided not to manifest himself from the strong wind, earthquake nor the fire, things we think because of His power will reveal himself and ignore that small still voice because we know it is the way of life of people without power. This indicates that God uses that which we do not pay attention to to reveal himself to us His children and this is why some of us get to say God has abandoned us to suffer but such is not our God and it is up to us to pay much attention to least in our world. Also in the Gospel God could have decided to choose among the big cities and towns in Israel to bring forth His Son into the world but He chose Bethlehem (Matt 2:6). He could also have chosen among the people of Israel those in high places but chose Joseph and Mary to be the father and mother of His Son on earth. He could manifest himself to Pharisees, Sadducees who didn't believe in Him so that they would believe by walking on the sea but chose He disciples who already had given up everything for His sake. Also in the second reading, God could have used the disciples of Jesus Christ who had stayed with Him to proclaim the truth but chose Paul who was once a persecutor of this same truth.
In conclusion, all I want us to reflect on throughout this week is that God reveals himself to us and will continue to do so but uses ways which will help us to understand Him more and thus we should pay attention to everything that goes on in our lives especially the least of them all for we do not when and how and what God will chose to manifest Himself to us with to receive His redemption and Salvation.
May the good Lord reveal himself to us and help us with His Holy Spirit to understan him.
By Raphael Andoh
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