Is God Everywhere and All-knowing or Not?

MUSLIMS claim that the Bible contradicts itself in regard to God’s omnipresence and omniscience.

They give two sets of verses to prove the “contradiction.”

These verses are Proverbs 15:3, Psalm 139:7-10 and Job 34:21-22. These, Muslims say, show that God is present everywhere and knows all.

The other set includes Genesis 3:8, 11:5 and 18:20-21, which they claim contradicts the first set.

The two sets do not contradict.

A. RESPONSE:

Proverbs 15:3; Ps 139:7-10; and Job 34:21-22 talk of the general truth that God is omnipresent and omniscient. He is everywhere and all-knowing.

Genesis 3:8, 11:5 and 18:20-21 do not deny God’s omniscience and omnipresence. They merely stress God’s PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT in the affairs of men.

Genesis 3:8 shows God personally walking in the garden to provide His visible presence to the first man and woman.

Genesis 11:5 shows how God personally felt offended by the effort of men to reach heaven and be like God. The same is true with Genesis 18:20-21.

So, there are no contradictions in the two sets of verses: The first set tells of the truth God is everywhere and is all-knowing. The second tells us that GOD HIMSELF gets INVOLVED in what we do.

The problem with Islam is that it has the belief that God cannot be personally involved in the affairs of men. This belief runs contrary to the revelations and actions of God in history.

In both Judaism and Christianity, which Muslims claim are related to Islam, God revealed Himself in a personal way and has directly involved Himself in their affairs.

But that issue aside and going back to the verses, the problem with Muslims is that they make claims about Biblical texts based on wrong appreciation and understanding of the verses.