Nicole D. Hayes, Founder, Voices Against the Grain
Is God precise or vague?
When it comes to understanding God’s character, His nature, His Word and His promises toward us, is He precise? Or is He vague?
To answer this, let’s review some scriptures, shall we?
Creation
“Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with the seed in it, according to their various kinds.” (Genesis 1:11, NIV)
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22, NIV)
Noah’s Ark
14 “So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. 16 Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches for the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.” (Genesis 6:14-16, NIV)
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” (Genesis 9:12-15)
Son of God, Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ: King of kings, Lord of lords
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12, NIV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)
His Promises
25 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25, NIV)
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (ex: giving resources, extending mercy, forgiveness, love, etc., it will be returned to you in the same measure from the same or different source). (Luke 6:37-38, NIV)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth.” (Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to those who receive Him) (John 14:16-17a, NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33, NIV)
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV)
2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.” (John 14:2-3, NIV)
In these few passages of scripture provided, does God’s Word appear precise or vague to you? Did your perception of God’s precision of instruction and faithfulness to His Word waver between any of the sections or specific verses? If so, you may ask yourself if you trust God to be the same in all aspects of His Word. Certainly, there are some aspects of His Word that are contingent upon our obedience, whether we exercise faith, His sovereignty and His perfect timing. Nevertheless, His Word is precise. He is trustworthy.
God is watching over His Word to see that it is performed (fulfilled) as told in Jeremiah 1:12. In this Christmas season of hope and believing, in any areas that we doubt, may we learn to trust God and His infallible Word.
Merry Christmas!
-Nicole
Nicole D. Hayes is the founder of Voices Against the Grain, a bold teaching ministry launched in May 2013. Nicole’s purpose in creating Voices Against the Grain is to be light in darkness, to boldly instruct truth amid confusion so as to bring clarity and restoration.
Learn more about Nicole D. Hayes here.
Voices Against the Grain 
Hi Nicole,
Just a comment on Matthew 7: 7-8
Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened for you.
I have asked and received nothing,
I seek but never find,
I knock but nothing opens.
I ask for the resources to do God’s work, help the poor. Still stuck in poverty without a way to help people or glorify God. So much for asking.
I seek God but find only silence. God has gone into hiding, refusing to be found. So much for seeking.
I knock but all doors are barred and locked so I can’t get in. So much for knocking.
If Matthew 7: 7-8 is so clear cut as you say; then why isn’t God keeping that promise? If this scripture is so clear and precise why hasn’t it happened? Is there something that the verse doesn’t say but implies, if so then it isn’t precise, it’s vague. Thanks and God Bless You, in Jesus name, Amen
Dear Kenneth,
Thank you for reading “Is God Precise or Vague?” I can appreciate your question put forth. I believe the last paragraph of the blog post sufficiently answers your question as I truly trust in God’s sovereignty:
“Certainly, there are some aspects of His Word that are contingent upon our obedience, whether we exercise faith, His sovereignty and His perfect timing. Nevertheless, His Word is precise. He is trustworthy.”
You seem to be doing a lot of “doing” though I ask, are you listening as God is speaking? Are you hearing His instructions? Is what you are doing Holy Spirit led? He is indeed a personal and intentional God and He speaks to us.
Praying for you to align with what He would have you to do.
Blessings,
Nicole
Thanks for your reply to my comment. To answer your question about if I am hearing God’s instructions, the answer is No. Just silence. I read the Bible and can understand the words, but the words don’t come alive as some people say. God’s word is a living word. I pray for understanding and wisdom. I pray for God to give me the ability to hear Him, nothing. All I can do is try ( doings) to do what is right on my own. That is the biggest problem I am having with my faith right now. No response, reaction, just heartbreaking silence, unanswered prayers, nothing discernable from God’s end. I lost track of the number of times I have cried my heart out, cried myself to sleep, decades ago. 4+ decades of waiting for God to do something, anything that I can understand. A response from God is useless if you don’t understand it, or see it, or feel it, or hear it. I don’t have a church community to turn to either, as God has isolated me through life long poverty. So I continue to struggle without God’s help.
Thanks again for your response and may God Bless You, in Jesus name, Amen
On Mon., Jul. 13, 2020, 7:22 p.m. Voices Against the Grain, wrote:
> vatg4him commented: “Dear Kenneth, Thank you for reading “Is God Precise > or Vague?” I can appreciate your question put forth. I believe the last > paragraph of the blog post sufficiently answers your question as I truly > trust in God’s sovereignty: “Certainly, there are some ” >
Praying for you, Kenneth.
-Nicole