Seeking Divine Guidance in Times of Uncertainty
Seeking divine guidance in times of uncertainty is a recurring theme in biblical literature and Christian thought, often involving prayer, diligent study of Scripture, and a watchful posture. The Bible presents various ways individuals have sought God's direction, contrasting legitimate approaches with forbidden practices like divination.
The Old Testament records instances where people sought to understand God's will. Ecclesiastes speaks of applying one's mind to "seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens," acknowledging this as a "grievous task God has given to humans" [3]. This suggests a human inclination to understand divine purposes, even when challenging. However, the Scriptures also condemn divination, which is defined as "foretelling future events, or discovering things secret by the aid of superior beings, or other than human means" [2]. Practices such as divination by rods, arrows, cups, or consulting teraphim are explicitly mentioned as forbidden methods of ascertaining the divine will [2].
Instead of such practices, biblical figures and later Christian traditions emphasize prayer and attentiveness to God's word. The prophet Habakkuk illustrates this posture, stating, "I will stand upon my watch... and watch to see what he will say unto me, will listen attentively to the words of his mouth and carefully observe the steps of his providence, that I may not lose the least hint of instruction or direction" [10]. This highlights a proactive and humble waiting upon God for guidance. Similarly, the New Testament exhorts believers to "watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is" [1]. This implies a continuous state of readiness and reliance on God.
Prayer is consistently presented as a primary means of seeking guidance. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists various prayers for divine direction, including pleas for God's presence and support, for the Holy Spirit not to be withdrawn, for divine comfort, and specifically "For divine teaching and direction" [4]. This aligns with the understanding that God is the "great superintendent and director of the universe" [8]. Abraham's servant, for instance, prayed for a sign that would indicate God's chosen wife for Isaac, demonstrating a "pious and rational" approach that sought a natural sign betokening virtuous qualities, rather than tempting providence with an unreasonable expectation [8].
The study of Scripture is another crucial element. John Gill, commenting on Jeremiah 6:16, advises that when people are at a crossroads and "know not which way to take," they should "make a short stop, and look to the way mark or way post, which points whither each path leads, and so accordingly proceed." He identifies the Scriptures as this "way mark to direct us which way we should take" [6]. Gill further encourages believers to "search and try our ways" by examining the love of God, the covenant of grace, and the Scriptures themselves for support and instruction under affliction [9].
Beyond specific directives, there is a broader call to seek the Lord. The apostle Paul, in Acts 17:27, speaks of God's arrangements being designed "That they should seek the Lord; if haply they might feel after him... and find him" [7]. This suggests that God's overarching purpose is for humanity to seek and discover Him, even if it feels like "groping their way in the dark" [7]. The difficulty in finding God, according to this view, lies not in His distance but in humanity's "distance from Him through the blinding effect of sin" [7].
Wisdom plays a role in discerning God's timing and purpose. Ephesians 5:16 encourages "redeeming the time," which is interpreted as "Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time" for good works and for God's work [5]. This involves recognizing and utilizing opportune moments, which constitutes true wisdom [5]. However, even the wisest may be surprised by unforeseen calamities, underscoring the need to "expect and prepare for sudden changes" [11]. While God's unsearchableness inspires awe, human kings are advised to consult with wise counselors, implying a balance between divine mystery and practical wisdom [12].
Sources
- Mark “Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is. -- Mark 13:33”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Divination — is a "foretelling future events, or discovering things secret by the aid of superior beings, or other than human means." It is used in Scripture of false systems of ascertaining the divine will. It has been universal in all ages, and all nations alike civilized and savage. Numerous forms of divination are mentioned, such as divination by rods, (Hosea 4:12) divination by arrows, (Ezekiel 21:21) divination by cups, (Genesis 44:5) consultation of teraphim, (1 Samuel 15:23; Ezekiel 21:21; Zechariah 10:2) [[442]Teraphim]; divination by the liver, (Ezekiel 21:2”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 1:13 (LEB) — I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to ⌞humans⌟.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:16: Redeeming the time-- (Col 4:5). Greek, "Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time" (whenever it occurs) of good to yourselves and to others. Buying off from the vanities of "them that are without" (Col 4:5), and of the "unwise" (here in Ephesians), the opportune time afforded to you for the work of God. In a narrower sense, special favorable seasons for good, occasionally presenting themselves, are referred to, of which believers ought diligently to avail themselves. This constitutes true "wisdom" (Eph 5:15). In a larger sense, the whole season f”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 6:16: Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see,.... These are the words of the Lord to the people, whom he would have judge for themselves, and not be blindly led by the false prophets and priests; directing them to do what men should, when they are in a place where two or more ways meet, and know not which way to take; they should make a short stop, and look to the way mark or way post, which points whither each path leads, and so accordingly proceed. Now, in religious things, the Scriptures are the way mark to direct us which way we should take: if the inquiry”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 17:27: That they should seek the Lord--That is the high end of all these arrangements of Divine Power, Wisdom, and Love. if haply they might feel after him--as men groping their way in the dark. and find him--a lively picture of the murky atmosphere of Natural Religion. though he be not far from every one of us--The difficulty of finding God outside the pale of revealed religion lies not in His distance from us, but in our distance from Him through the blinding effect of sin.”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 24:12: And he said, O Lord God, etc. - "The conduct of this servant," says Dr. Dodd, "appears no less pious than rational. By supplicating for a sign, he acknowledges God to be the great superintendent and director of the universe, and of that event in particular; and at the same time, by asking a natural sign, such as betokened humanity, condescension, and other qualities which promised a discreet and virtuous wife, he puts his prayer upon such a discreet, rational footing, as to be a proper example for all to imitate who would not tempt the providence of God, by expect”
- Lamentations (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Lamentations 3:36: Let us search and try our ways,.... stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God, which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made for afflictions in case of disobedience, and for supports under them: let us search the Scriptu”
- Habakkuk (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Habakkuk 2:1: Here, I. The prophet humbly gives his attendance upon God (Hab 2:1): "I will stand upon my watch, as a sentinel on the walls of a besieged city, or on the borders of an invaded country, that is very solicitous to gain intelligence. I will look up, will look round, will look within, and watch to see what he will say unto me, will listen attentively to the words of his mouth and carefully observe the steps of his providence, that I may not lose the least hint of instruction or direction. I will watch to see what he will say in me" (so it may be read), "what the Spi”
- Ecclesiastes (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 8:6: Solomon had said (Ecc 8:5) that a wise man's heart discerns time and judgment, that is, a man's wisdom will go a great way, by the blessing of God, in moral prognostications; but here he shows that few have that wisdom, and that even the wisest may yet be surprised by a calamity which they had not any foresight of, and therefore it is our wisdom to expect and prepare for sudden changes. Observe, 1. All the events concerning us, with the exact time of them, are determined and appointed in the counsel and foreknowledge of God, and all in wisdom: To every purpos”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 25:2: God's unsearchableness impresses us with awe (compare Isa 45:15; Rom 11:33). But kings, being finite, should confer with wise counsellors;”