Why does God hide himself? Why not come right out and reveal himself to man? If there is something he wants from us, why not say so? The answer is relatively simple. He did. Right there in your house, you have a Bible which contains the testimony of dozens of people down through the ages who have encountered God and lived to tell the tale.

You have to also credit the stubbornness and obtuseness of men who really don’t want to know. They may say they would like to see God, but deep down inside, they don’t really. And then there is this. The very being of God, the existence of life, the actions of God and of men in the world create a very complex set of relationships that aren’t so easy to deal with. And that is why the Bible tries to keep it simple.

He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

God does not ask us to climb every mountain, ford every stream. He doesn’t require heroic efforts. He just requires a good life lived well. Okay then, you want to know, what is all the rest of this stuff about? Why all the laws, the ceremonies, the rules, these holidays you keep talking about?