There is an aspect of God’s character in scripture that we all need to consider, for ourselves and as we come alongside others. It’s one of those things that doesn’t feel right actually, and it is one aspect that perhaps we’d like to avoid thinking about. Yet it is there and we need to consider it.

I first was prompted to reflect on this a few years back in reading about Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32:31

However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.

Did you hear that? “God withdrew from Hezekiah.” What does this mean? How are we supposed to “apply this to our lives today?”

I recently saw it in Hosea 5:6

When they come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the Lord, they will not find him, because he has withdrawn from them.

“He has withdrawn from them,” even though they are still going through the spiritual motions of sacrifice.

Is Jesus perhaps referencing this in a conversation with his disciples in Matthew 13:11?

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

A few questions come to mind for me.

First, is this true? I want a God who always comforts me, who will “never leave more nor forsake me.” and who “will be with me always, to the very end of the age.” I want the God who, through the Holy Spirit, has sent me “the Comforter.” Surely God won’t step away from me to “see what is really in my heart” will he?

Second, as we embrace our discipleship journey and also walk alongside others, it is so important to not create a God that we believe is “appropriate”, but to actually follow and worship the God who is. This will often leave us with tensions, trying to bring two sets of scripture together that appear to contradict each other.

And finally, is this me? Have I been so distracted with what I want life to be all about that God has decided to step away and “see what is really in my heart?” How would I approach this conversation with someone that I am discipling? Is this too bold?

This kind of thinking can either scare and confuse us, or it can move us to a place of divine reflection, times of solitude, allowing our minds and spirits to slow down and be available for God to speak. We need it for ourselves, and we need to lead those we come alongside to enter into the same.

Let’s be people who are willing to embrace all aspects of the scriptures as they reveal who God is fully.

For the kingdom.