There is a difference between experiencing God and truly knowing Him.
Many believers desire the acts of God, but omit or think less about seeking to know His ways. We pray for miracles, provision, healing, breakthroughs, open doors, favor and visible demonstrations of His power. We rejoice when God moves on our behalf (and rightly so). Scripture is filled with testimonies of God’s mighty acts throughout generations. However, there is a deeper invitation beyond simply witnessing what God can do. God desires more than spectators of His acts. He desires people who understand His heart, His character and His ways.
“He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.”
Psalm 103:7 KJV
This verse reveals a profound distinction. The children of Israel experienced the acts of God. They saw the Red Sea part. They ate manna from heaven. They witnessed water come from a rock and saw God move with power repeatedly. Yet despite seeing miracles, many still struggled with unbelief, rebellion, fear and inconsistency. Moses, however, pursued something deeper. He sought to know God personally. Israel knew what God did. Moses desired to know who God was.
The Difference Between Acts and Ways
The acts of God reveal His power.
The ways of God reveal His nature.
Anyone can admire miracles from a distance. Crowds often gather around displays of power. However, intimacy is formed in the place of relationship, surrender, obedience and communion with God. Moses consistently positioned himself near the presence of God. While others remained at a distance, Moses ascended the mountain. While others focused on outward experiences, Moses longed for deeper understanding.
“The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
Exodus 33:11 NIV
Friendship with God did not come from casual encounters. It came through continual pursuit. In Exodus 33, after leading a stubborn and rebellious people, Moses still prayed:
“Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
Exodus 33:13
Moses understood something many believers overlook: miracles alone cannot sustain intimacy. You can witness God move and still fail to know His heart.
This Dispensation Requires Intimacy
We are living in a time where many seek encounters, but fewer seek transformation. There is a temptation to chase manifestations while neglecting communion with God Himself.
Do not neglect intimacy with God in this dispensation. God is not merely calling His people to experience occasional moments of His presence. He is calling us into consistent relationship. He desires sons and daughters who recognize His voice, discern His character and understand His ways.
Knowing His ways changes how we respond in trials. It changes how we pray, how we obey, how we trust and how we walk through uncertainty. When you know His ways, you develop confidence in His character even when you do not understand His timing.
Anyone can praise God after the miracle, but those who know His ways trust Him before the breakthrough appears.
He is Inviting Us to Go Deeper
The Lord is still asking believers to move beyond surface Christianity into deeper fellowship with Him. This requires slowing down, listening, studying His Word, praying and allowing His Spirit to shape us. Intimacy is not built through occasional emotional moments. It is cultivated daily. God wants more than admiration from afar. He desires friendship, fellowship and surrender. The goal is not simply to encounter God occasionally. The goal is to walk closely enough with Him to recognize His ways.
Reflection Questions
- Am I more focused on what God can do for me than on knowing Him deeply?
- What does pursuing the ways of God look like in my daily life?
- How has God been revealing His character to me in this season?
- Have I mistaken spiritual experiences for true intimacy with God?
- What practical changes can I make to develop a deeper fellowship with Him?