Of Seeing Him That Is Invisible.

Adapted From A Sermon By

Philip Doddridge

By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

(Hebrews 11:27)

Hebrews 11:27 sets before us a remarkable secret of Moses’ life: “By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” 

In this sermon, adapted from the godly Philip Doddridge, we will consider what it means to live with a steady, faith-filled view of the invisible God. When the eye of the soul is fixed upon the Lord—whom we cannot see with our natural eyes—fear of man loses its power, trials can be endured, and obedience becomes possible even when it costs us dearly.May the Lord open our hearts today to behold Him who is invisible, that we too might walk by faith and not by sight.

The apostle is here speaking of Moses. God himself testified that he was a faithful servant in all his house. He has very good reason to give Moses a large and important place among those people of faith who gained a good reputation. Israel would have been truly happy if through all its generations it had followed the example of that lawgiver. They were always so quick to boast about his name.

The result of his faith that the text highlights is this. He left Egypt. He did not fear the anger of the king. It is clear right away from these words that this cannot refer to the time he left Egypt when he fled to the land of Midian since we are told that at that time he ran from Pharaoh fearing for his life.

It makes much more sense to understand it as the last time he left Egypt. At that point he stood before the proud ruler who was extremely angry. He faced him with calm courage even while the king raged and threatened to kill him if he ever saw his face again.

Or perhaps it especially points to his courage at the Red Sea. The whole army of Israel was tired and upset. They were terrified. Moses had every reason to fear that Pharaoh would pour out all his hatred and anger on him. The king believed the entire revolt of the people was his fault.

Yet even though the sea blocked them in front and mountains stood on each side while the enemy pressed in from behind Moses stayed strong. He trusted completely in God. He spoke as if he controlled the winds the sea and the mountains. He said to the frightened Israelites "Stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord."{Exodus 14:13}

The apostle goes on to explain the principle behind it. This servant of God faced all those dangers with such brave courage and determination. He endured as seeing him that is invisible. He had a firm belief in the existence and care of God. He trusted in the power and goodness of the blessed God. This made him stronger than any fear of man. The eye of the mind showed him the invisible God. In his presence while acting by his command he did not dare to fear.

This morning we will not go deep into the background story. We will not consider in detail how clearly Moses showed such strong faith in this matter. Anyone who simply reads the history can see that faith at work in everything Moses said and did. Instead, we will consider four observations on the words of the text. After that, we will conclude by considering how these truths matter for our lives today.

I. We will observe that the blessed God is an invisible Being.

II. We will observe that nevertheless there is a way by which he may be seen.

III. We will consider how the generality of mankind do not obtain this sight.

IV. We will see how it is that where the sight of God is obtained it will prove a principle of exalted goodness.

May we, by blessed experience, find that it is so. May we, this day gain, and every day retain, such thoughts of God as will produce such happy consequences.

I. We observe that the blessed God is the great invisible Being. "Seeing him who is invisible." And of all invisible beings he is the most illustrious. So that he bears it as a kind of appropriate title, that he is the invisible. A title by which he may be known and distinguished from all other beings whatsoever.

1. We observe that God is invisible. Our reason shows us this truth. And the word of God clearly teaches it.

Think about it this way. Only material things can be seen with our eyes. God is not made of matter. He is pure spirit. That is why he is invisible.

Now suppose for a moment that God were made of matter. Then he would have to fill all space. Why? Because God is infinite. He has no limits. If he were a material being, his substance would stretch out forever in every direction without end.

If that happened, there would be no room left for anything else. No stars, no planets, no trees, no people. Everything would have to be part of God himself. But we know that is not true. God created the world as something separate from himself.

Because God is spirit and not matter, he does not take up space in that way. He can be present everywhere without crowding out his creation. That is why he remains invisible to our physical eyes, yet he is always near.

But these are more deep and philosophical ideas. They are menionned only in passing. It is sufficient for us knowing the Bible to be a Divine revelation to know that it asserts the invisibility of the blessed God.

The apostle John states that "no one has ever seen God."{John 1:18} and Paul addresses him as "the King of the ages, immortal, invisible."{1 Timothy 1:17} And elsewhere as he "who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see."{1 Timothy 6:16} And the only begotten of the Father is said to be "the image of the invisible God."{Colossians 1:15} And this was the doctrine of the Old Testament as well as of the New.

It is true indeed that we often read of God rendering himself visible to particular persons and even to the whole nation of the Jews. But then with relation to this it is said that they saw no visible shape.{Deuteronomy 4:15} And they were forbidden to make any visible thing as the symbol and representation of God.

And what is yet more convincing we there read of the Divine omnipresence of his filling not only heaven but earth with his presence. Now it is certain that the world is not filled with any visible form of the Deity. And therefore it is plain that what was seen was only some material appearance by which God gave those who beheld it a token of his more extraordinary presence. And that it was not considered by them as the very essence and substance of God.

From this it’s clear that all those descriptions in the Bible that talk about God’s eye, His hands, His feet, His ear, and so on, are not meant to be taken literally. They’re just figures of speech. They’re simply ways of expressing God’s power, His knowledge, and other attributes.

2. We might further observe here that God is spoken of as the invisible Being in a special way. It is not that he alone is invisible by nature. There are many invisible spirits besides the blessed God. Angels are invisible. They wait upon the saints from time to time. They minister to the heirs of salvation. Human souls are invisible too. They leave at death. They move to a different kind of world. Yet no eye can see them in their passage. This is true even when a dying person is watched with great care.

Millions of invisible beings of one kind and another surround us. Yet God is said to be by way of eminence the One who is invisible. This is for two evident reasons.

First, there is nothing material and visible that makes a part of his being. As far as we know, though angels and human souls are invisible to us by some means we know nothing of, they may be made visible to each other. We are sure that Jesus Christ dwells in a human body. That body is no doubt visible to the blessed inhabitants of the heavenly world.

Second, God is called the invisible Being because he is infinitely the greatest and most glorious of them all. He is the Being with whom we are infinitely more concerned than with any or with all the rest. "Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord?"{Psalm 89:6} {Who is like him among the gods,]{Psalm 86:8} the God with whom we have to do?

And indeed we could show clearly that our dealings with other beings matter most as they point us back to God. They help lead us closer to him and strengthen our walk with him.

II. Nevertheless there is a way by which this invisible God may be seen.

So we are told concerning Moses that he endured as seeing him who is invisible. He acted as one that saw God. Now there are in the word of God two respects in which God may be said to be seen by his creatures. In the one of which it is the privilege of good men to see him. In the other it is their character to see him.

1. To see God sometimes means to enjoy him. In that respect it is the good man’s happiness. It is the highest happiness any creature can ever obtain. What could sound more like true happiness than enjoying the Creator, the great, blessed, eternal God?

Now this is promised to every true Christian. Oh that we might each of us attain it! God himself promises it: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."{Matthew 5:8} And Job had a joyful prospect of it when he said, "Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another."{Job 19:27}

2. It sometimes means to have a real sense of God’s presence by faith. In this sense it is the character of a good man, and of Moses in the text. So Job, when God answered him out of the whirlwind, though there was no bodily appearance, cried out, "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you."{Job 42:5} And so Hagar, when she felt God’s providential care, called the name of the place Beer-lahai-roi. For she said, "truly here I have seen him who looks after me."{Genesis 16:13} She had, as it were, fixed the eye of her soul upon him. David expresses the same idea sometimes by having his eyes ever towards the Lord, and sometimes by setting the Lord always before him.{Psalm 25:15, 16:8} Happy are the souls that can appeal to Him who sees their hearts and say that this is their temper and their care. But is this happiness universal? Would to God that it were! The opposite is too plainly shown in the words of the text. And this leads us to observe,

III. That most people do not obtain and keep this sight of God. For you see that this is spoken of as something extraordinary in Moses. It produced a very extraordinary character in him, that he saw him who is invisible. Now this seems a matter worthy of great notice. When such a God is always and necessarily present with men, giving them so many tokens of his perfections and so many proofs of his kindness and care for them, they should be so little aware of it. Let us look at the sad proofs of this that our minds, being more convinced of the fact, may be the more impressed with it. This appears when we consider how many take no notice of him at all, and how many are not afraid to provoke him to his face.

1. There are many in the world that take no notice of God at all. Therefore they are said to be "without God in the world."{Ephesians 2:12} And as another sacred author speaks, all their thoughts are, “There is no God.”{Psalm 10:4} Indeed they do, as it were, say to God, "Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways."{Job 21:14} No. They act as if they thought it beneath them to take any notice of God or to hold any conversation with him. The wicked, through the pride of his face, as it is said in the preceding text, will not seek after God.

And let us solemnly ask our own consciences whether this may not be said of some of us. Can it be imagined that a man sees God or has any affecting sight of him when he will not take any notice of him? When he will not hold any conversation with him? When he will not speak a word to him? When he will not ask a favour from his hand or thank him for what he receives from his bounty? But when some serious and solemn thought of God is perhaps suggested to his mind, he will turn away from it. He will do this even when he is perhaps in the very house of God.

Does that man see God who sets himself to sleep when he should be presenting his petitions to him and hearing his word? Or who is perhaps whispering and laughing when he should be singing his praise? Why, this is just such conduct as might be expected from a man who imagined that he was in a place where God was not, or where God could not see and observe his conduct. Oh, it is too plain from men’s omission of divine worship and from their trifling in it that they do not see God or take any notice of him.

2. There are many who are not afraid to provoke God to his face. And surely these do not see him. When we speak of provoking God to his face, we use a phrase which the scripture teaches us: "I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually."{Isaiah 65:2-3}

And many such there are whose life is one continued provocation of the Majesty of heaven. It is as if they would make the experiment to see how much he would bear. They know his laws, and they count them as nothing. They would not commit this or that wickedness before man, before a judge. No, perhaps they would not commit it before a child. But they will commit it before the blessed God. And can we imagine that they see him? That they have then a proper and steady persuasion that God, with all his power and all his holiness, is there?

What! Do they think themselves his superiors? Do they suppose that they can overcome his omnipotence? One would imagine that they thought so. As the apostle expresses it when he says, "Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?"{1 Corinthians 10:22}

Consider how this madness is represented by Eliphaz when he speaks of the proud haughty sinner: "Because he has stretched out his hand against God and defies the Almighty, running stubbornly against him with a thickly bossed shield."{Job 15:25, 26} The Almighty is represented like an armed warrior. And the sinner is represented as running against him. Do these wretches see God? Do they know what an enemy they charge and challenge? Oh, if they did, they would fall down before him in tears and in trembling, and sue to him for their lives.

Accordingly, if God gives a poor creature, as it were, but one glance of himself, if he flashes but one ray, as it were, from his majestic countenance upon him, his heart sinks at once. His hands fall down disabled. And he cries out like one who is undone.

And if God pleases to shine forth in the mild beams of his love and mercy, and by his Holy Spirit to clear up the sight of this poor, rash, rebellious creature, his heart is subdued. He loves the God whom he was before making war against. And he would, as it were, not only take off his rebellious armour, but all his most boasted ornaments, that he might reflect a few of those rays, and wear a little of that resemblance which appears so beautiful and so delightful. And this we are to show in the next place:

IV. That where a sight of God is maintained in the soul, it will prove a principle of the most heroic and exalted goodness.

This is what made a Moses. This is what fired his zeal. This is what strengthened his patience. This is what fitted him for everything he did and everything he bore in God’s service. He saw him who is invisible. May we feel this truth today. To see this invisible God brings noble results. It preserves us from sin. It animates our devotions. It disposes us to every kind action toward our fellow creatures. And it arms our mind with courage to endure the greatest difficulties and hardships.

1. A believing sight of God, for of that we now speak, would have a most powerful tendency to preserve us from sin.

We live in a world full of temptations. Our natures are frail and feeble. This truth is therefore important. You know how it worked in Joseph when his mistress urged him toward her unlawful love. "How then," says he, "can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" {Genesis 39:9} No matter how secret the scene of sin might be, he knew that God could not be shut out from it. In the sight of God he could not bear to act in such an indecent, unjust, and ungrateful way.

One clear view of the blessed God would disarm ten thousand temptations. Things that seem great when God is out of mind would shrink to nothing in his presence. We should notice that this is a universal remedy. It does not apply only to this sin or that sin. It covers all sin.

In fact, it reaches even to the first motion and tendency toward sin in the soul. For it is natural to reflect, What if my outward behavior looks fine, yet if my heart is polluted with sinful desires, affections, and purposes, will not the heart-searching God be offended? Can it be hidden from him? Or if he sees it, will he accept it? Indeed, will he not rather see it as a special insult offered to his own blessed self? When I am careful of my character before others and unwilling to offend them, I make nothing of his favor. I make so bold with him.

This thought would carry great influence. It would be even more powerful because it is of such a noble nature. It would teach us to be subject not only for fear of punishment but for conscience sake. We would act out of conscientious reverence for so great and glorious a Being. We would act out of gratitude too when we remember his fatherly kindness and goodness.

Try this in the coming week. See what a believing view of God will do to keep you from sin. It will surely prove one of the most innocent weeks in your life. And it would be one of the most devout and useful weeks also for,

2. This believing sight of God will surely animate our devotion.

The Jewish ritual was exceedingly splendid. There was a great deal in it which struck the senses in a very powerful manner. The Christian worship is, especially among us, conducted with the greatest simplicity. There is very little in it to strike the eye or the ear. But if we look through these forms to an invisible God, it will strike the heart.

When we see him, as it were, with all his infinite perfections and glories about him, clothing himself with light as with a garment, arrayed with honour and majesty, we will, like Moses, when he saw the back of the King of Israel, hasten, and bow ourselves down with our faces towards the earth.

The believing sight of God will put humility into our confessions, ardent desire into our petitions, and affectionate gratitude into our praises. It will fill us with humility, abasement, and love.

"I have undertaken to speak to the Lord," says the father of the faithful, "I who am but dust and ashes."{Genesis 18:27} "Now my eye sees you," says Job, "therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."{Job 42:6}

"Lord! what am I amidst your works? what am I in your presence? Does the Lord look upon me? May I be allowed to utter one word before you? May I be allowed to do it; and shall I neglect to do it? Shall I live without speaking to this great and glorious God, who is ever with me? or shall I speak in a hypocritical, in a formal, and in a cold manner? Would that I could pour out all my soul in every word which I utter! that I could unite all its powers in one fervent act! that I had capacity to praise you as you are praised in heaven! to love you with as great ardour and as strong emotion as the brightest seraph does there! Gladly would I vie with them, O holy Lord God, in celebrating your magnificent and glorious name!"

3. The believing sight of God will quicken us to benevolent affections.

When we view God, we view him not only as light, but as love. We see him as the Father of the universe, dispensing blessings on every side. We know that it is his will that his rational creatures should love one another, and make each other as happy as they can. Therefore, both in obedience to his will, and in imitation of his example, when we thus look upon him, we shall find our souls inflamed with a desire to do good.

He that does not love his brother, whom he has seen, how shall he love God, whom he has not seen? It is natural for the soul to say, "Do I stand here in the presence of this good God, and does he even now look into my heart? Oh, let him see, as it were, his own image reflected from thence! let him behold a creature who, according to his narrow capacity, would gladly pursue the end which his Creator and great Benefactor pursues!"

It would be an useful illustration of this to think of a Christian viewing, as it were, on the one hand, his Heavenly Father, and on the other his needy brother, and saying to himself, "How came it to pass that there should be such an object, a destitute man, a destitute Christian in the presence of an Almighty God? Is he not all powerful? Could he not have provided effectually for the supply of all his creatures, and have taken care that there should be no painful need? Why then is this permitted, but that there might be the exercise of graces proper to these different states? that my poor brother might exercise humble submission and holy dependence; and that I, enriched as I am by my Father's bounty, might apply some of it to this good purpose, and so have the pleasure of giving."

As we sometimes give our children a little supply in their hands, to see how they will use it, and are pleased with what they do in the way of charity, a heart that sees how God opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing will find an incentive to charity and usefulness in everything which he sees about him.

The birds of the air teach it. The beasts of the field proclaim it. The trees of the forest, the grain, and the very flowers of the earth, at the same time that they declare the presence of God, declare his bounty, and call upon us to be merciful and liberal as our Heavenly Father is.

Nothing will appear the object of so noble an ambition as to be approved by this benevolent Being. Though it is beneath a Christian to do his alms to be seen of men, we are allowed, we are required to maintain a regard to that God who sees in secret, and whom we in secret may see.

4. This believing sight of God will arm the mind to a courageous endurance of the greatest difficulties and hardships which we can meet in the way of our duty.

Various instances of this occur in scripture. It is reasonable to believe that it should produce such an effect. David met Goliath as in the name and presence of God. He defied the danger at which an army trembled. The three worthies considered themselves as in the presence of God. They were not afraid to answer that tyrant who threatened them with a fiery furnace heated before their eyes. Likewise, Daniel continued to pray to his God three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem, knowing full well the danger that awaited him. He faced the jaws of death with calm courage because his sight was fixed upon the living God.

And what can be more reasonable? Does the sight and presence of a general inspire his soldiers with courage? And shall not the presence of God inspire us with heroic sentiments? Shall God see us turn our back upon the enemy? Dare we retreat when God looks on? Let us be faithful to death, since he is present who can give to us a crown of life!

To this view the subject directly leads. It may evidently be applied to any thing of hazard in circumstances not altogether so desperate, as was the case with Moses before Pharaoh, and at the Red Sea.

We should now proceed to,

V. A breif consideration of how we may apply this to ourselves.

1. Let us now direct the eye of our minds to that invisible God in whose presence we are, and of whose glory we have been hearing.

Let us not leave this time of worship without acting upon this admonition which we have received. "Blessed God! we know that you are near, not far from any one of us, since in you we live, move, and exist. Especially are you here in this time of worship. We bow our souls before you; we consider your incomparable majesty and glory; we rejoice in your presence, that you cannot be separated from us. We pray that we may never forget you; that you will remind us at all times of your blessed self; and will put suitable understanding and affections into our hearts according to the different circumstances in which we are. Direct the eyes of our minds to you, the great Father of light; and direct our hearts to the love of God, and the patient waiting for Jesus Christ!"

2. Let us lament it that there are so few in the world who see God.

How can this be, when the world itself is not more apparent than the being and glory of the great Creator? The invisible things of God are clearly seen,{Romans 1:20} being understood by the things which are made, even his eternal power and godhead. The heavens declare his glory, and the firmament proclaims his handy work. "Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."{Psalm 19:1, 2}

What, shall we then say that men overlook him who is near to us, him who is within us? What! but that a fatal blindness has spread over the human race, over all souls that are not enlightened by the influence of Divine grace. They grope as in noonday, as the sacred writer expresses it. Not to see God! Oh! how much better were it not to see the sun! how much better to have been as an untimely birth, as infants which never saw light!

But he must be seen at last. He will be seen then, when the spirit returns to God who gave it. I shall behold him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. Unhappy creatures! who will not now direct your eyes to the invisible God, you shall behold him at last to your everlasting confusion. You shall at once see the glory of his majesty, and feel the weight of his avenging hand.

3. Let us labour to retain a more constant sight of God for the time to come than we have ever yet had.

Surely the tendency that it has to promote those blessed ends which we have mentioned must weight more than ten thousand arguments to engage us to it. Yet we sadly neglect it. Let us, by the grace of God, endeavour to correct this great evil. This will be the subject, Lord willing, of our next sermon. We will hear some important encouragements and advices.

We should endeavour to obtain a firm and rational persuasion of the existence, providence, and presence of God. We should view him in the light in which the gospel of his Son has placed him. We should labour to secure an interest in him through Christ. We should guard against all undue attachment to things which are visible. We should frequently and solemnly be thinking of the invisible world. We should set ourselves often to think of him, and speak to him. We should make it a most earnest request that he would raise us to himself by his Holy Spirit. We should ask him to make it more easy and habitual to our souls to think of him, to speak to him, and to live with him.