Knowing God Personally by G. W. Caviness

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 19, 1915

Knowing God Personally

By G. W. Caviness

Are We Actually Acquainted with God? — How Some of the Patriarchs Learned to Know Him

By G. W. CAVINESS

The Holy Scriptures teach us that every one may and should know God for himself. There is an experience which each one must have individually before it can be said that he knows God. He may have been brought up in a Christian family, may have read and heard the Bible from childhood, he may also have had faithful instruction in the things of God by his godly parents, he may have attended the Sabbath school and church services regularly all his life, and may have a good understanding of sacred history, and still not know the Lord by personal experience.

When Samuel Learned to Know God

The case of the prophet Samuel gives us an illustration of this. This child was given to his godly mother in answer to her prayer, and she promised to lend him to the Lord all the days of his life. His mother, knowing that she would not have her child with her always, taught him faithfully in the things of God; and the boy was so well prepared for the service of the Lord, that when he left his pious mother to live in Jerusalem, he was safe from the contamination of the profligate sons of Eli, although they were priests in the temple. But when the Lord appeared that night and called Samuel, he went to Eli three times, supposing the aged high priest had called him; and the Bible says, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.” 1 Sam. 3:7.

It seems somewhat strange to say of a

child who had been brought up as Samuel had, that he knew not God; but such is the language of the inspired Word. He had had all the instruction and help a godly mother could give him; but now he was away from her, and must come into direct relation with God, and have an experience that neither his parents nor the church nor any human being could give him.

Jacob Met God and Became Personally Acquainted

The same was true with Jacob. He lived at home, and had the instructions of God-fearing parents; yet he did not learn to know God for himself, although he was deeply interested in religious matters, and coveted the spiritual blessings of the birthright. Doubtless he had heard from the lips of his grandfather Abraham of his wonderful experiences, so that from father, mother, and grandfather he had the best opportunity in the world to learn about God and His wondrous dealings with man; yet he did not know the Lord, and perhaps his very surroundings made it apparently unnecessary that he should have personal relation with the Lord.

But when he was compelled to flee from his home, and had to spend the night in a desert and dangerous place, and was no longer under the protection of his parents, he felt the need of the divine protection. He prayed earnestly to God—prayed as he never had prayed before, because he felt his need as he never had felt it before.

The Lord heard and answered his prayer, and that night showed him a wondrous vision, to let him know that his heavenly Father was a personal help in time of need. He saw a ladder whose foot was on the earth, and its top reached to heaven. He saw angels of God ascending and descending. He saw God above, and heard Him say: “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.”

God Was There, and He Knew It Not

That Jacob did not know God, or realize His presence, is evident from what he said the next morning. When he awoke, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” He made a solemn vow that if God would keep him in the way he was going, supplying him with the necessities of life, then God should be his God.

A true knowledge of God includes ever the idea of the presence and protection of God as promised in His word: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” What Jacob saw in his dream is not merely a fancy, but is a divine reality. The angels of the Lord, as in the days of old, ascend and descend, carrying messages between our Father in heaven and His children here on earth. They still give protection and help to the believing child of God.

Moses’ Secret of Endurance

Of Moses it is said that “he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.” A true knowledge of God includes the ability to recognize the presence of heavenly beings though they may be invisible to human eyes. The experiences of the servants of God as recorded in the Bible are for our instruction and learning. They would be of very little use to us unless it were possible that we might have similar experiences.

Of what value is it to me to know that the angels of the Lord rescued Elisha from his enemies in a wondrous way? Of what advantage is it to me that an angel took the chains from Peter, opened the jail, and let him go free? Of what good is it to me to know that Paul and Silas were freed from the stocks at midnight by an earthquake, and thus permitted to preach the gospel to the jailer and his household?

The benefit to me from those experiences is received when I believe that God is able to do the same things to-day and for me; and when I see the hand of God directing me in my affairs, then I have learned the lesson these instances in the Holy Scriptures were designed to teach. When I have learned to see the things that are not seen, and am taught the lessons of God’s providence in my own case, then I may be said to know God, and be taught of Him. Then, indeed, is He my God, and I am His child. Then I know Him whom to know aright is life eternal.