GOD’S WAYS AND GOD’S ACTS

“He made known His WAYS to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel” – Psalm 103:7

Believers are meant to know GOD’S WAYS and GOD’S ACTS: “He made known His WAYS to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel” (Psa.103:7). To know God’s WAYS is to know Who He is; to know God’s Acts is to know what He does. Many people only know God’s acts, not His Ways. They know Him superficially – not intimately. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they had witnessed God’s mighty acts and marvellous deeds up close – the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night – and they were captivated with the miracle-working God who had joined forces with them to release them from bondage and bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey. He had promised to give them that land; but they didn’t know Him intimately; they barely knew Him!

There is a great deal of difference between observing God's external actions and understanding His Ways – His Person, attitude, character, principles, and values. In the New Testament, we see examples of people who sought desperately for miracles, just as the Israelites did; seeking out God’s works, but not His ways. Multitudes followed Jesus for fleshly provisions, not because they understood Him (Jh.6:26). Many people, including Believers in Christ, still focus on God's actions rather than His Ways. They are impressed by physical miracles, and run after healing and material blessings at the detriment of eternal virtues. Most of their prayers relate to mundane matters and are steeped solely in the physical realm.

God works miracles, but He is more than a Miracle-worker! He is the Life-Transformer and Destiny-Moulder! He desires more that we know Him and His ways than remain mere spectators of His acts. If the acts of God – the healings, miracles, signs, wonders, and spectacular demonstrations – are the things that solely excite us, then we have not seen the Glory of the New Covenant, and are still in a state of spiritual babyhood. One of the most vital questions to ask ourselves is: “Do I really know God?” If the answer is “Yes,” it follows as night follows day, we will know His Ways and His Will in our lives.

The Israelites were eager to enter Canaan. God had said this land and a new lease of life were His will for them. He had assured them of provision, protection, and angelic aid, but not His Presence – because of their sin. Moses wouldn’t settle for what that meant. He faced a huge mission; leading God’s chosen people through the wilderness into the Promised Land. He wouldn’t take that deal without God’s Presence. Looking at this tremendous responsibility and unknown future, he made a heartfelt plea for the revelation of God’s Way and Presence: “If I have found grace in Your sight, SHOW ME NOWYOUR WAY, that I may know You…If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here” (Exo.33:13-15).

Moses knew only God as his serenity, security, and sufficiency. He didn’t just ask God to show him the way to the Promised Land, but to KNOW GOD’S WAYS. He refused to settle for any angel. He was saying in essence: “I don’t want provision and protection without Your Presence. I will not settle for any blessing without the Blesser. I don’t want the land without the Lord.” That’s what it means to cherish and passionately pursue God’s ways, rather than being merely thrilled by His acts. Moses sought to know God more fully. If all we see are God’s acts, then when they don’t manifest as we think they should, we’ll push the panic button like Israel did at the Red Sea and on other occasions. They did not know the ways of God.

Knowing God’s Ways ushers us into rest and peace in a troubled world: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exo.33:14b). Even though they “saw” God’s works forty years, Israel found no rest because they never knew God’s Ways (Heb.3:9). When we know God’s ways, we’ll receive His rest, serenity and stability.