What Biblical Evidence Is There for God's Omnipresence?

The character and nature of God is so incredible that it will take us an eternity to understand Him fully. It will be a perfect relationship. During our time on earth, we only have a glimpse into Him, what we are capable of understanding.

Some of the traits of God that we do know about include how different He is from us. In order to sustain the universe, be working on the hearts of people, and indwell each believer, God cannot be limited to one location. He simply could not get the work done that He does every day otherwise.

The word for God’s ability to be everywhere, all at once, all the time is omnipresence. Understanding God’s omnipresent nature, and how He works through it to sustain us and implement His will, can help people remember their awe and wonder for the Lord and give insight into how He is working now.

Does God Say He Is Omnipresent?

Nowhere in the Bible does God say, “I am omnipresent,” but He does make many direct statements about His state of being that demonstrate He is everywhere. One of the most powerful and direct statements is “’Am I a God at hand,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’” (Jeremiah 23:23-24). He made it clear that He is everywhere, and there is no place outside of His presence.

There are other times where God states that He has seen or done something that He would only have knowledge of if He were able to be in multiple places at the same time. For example, the Exodus account records Moses' interaction with God through the burning bush, “Then the Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings” (Exodus 3:7).

In the previous chapter, Moses fled to Midian, located in current day Saudi Arabia, where he met a man named Jethro – “the priest of Midian” (Exodus 2:7a). God was present with the people of Midian while also seeing the suffering of His people in Egypt, meaning He was in both locations.

While God would send His spirit to rest upon select people and places before the ascension of Christ, He was still everywhere, proving His power. At other times, He gives prophetic word about different nations, showing that He sees what each nation is doing at any given time, and that He can see and influence their future, such as the ones against Babylon in chapters 13, 14, 21, of 47 of Isaiah.

How Is God Omnipresent?

It can be hard to imagine, as a person limited to time and space, being able to be in all places while experiencing time differently. One of the ways God is capable of being omnipresent in His nature is because He is spirit; “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). While Jesus, the Son and the second person of the Godhead, did take on the limitations of a man and live life as a human in a physical body, God exists in a state outside of the physical. He existed before time because He is eternal, and He existed before the creation of the physical parts of the universe.

Another unique feature that makes God capable of being in many places at once is that He is Triune, three persons in one. Jesus Christ said during His earthly ministry, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17).

This Helper, this Spirit of Truth, is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the person who hovered over the waters before Creation, who rested on God’s anointed at various times in history before Jesus came, and who indwells each believer. As the Holy Spirit, God can be truly walking alongside each believer and working on the hearts of those who are not yet saved.

Why Is It Necessary for God to Be Omnipresent?

In mythology, many false gods are constrained, limited. They look human and are limited like humans. They have specific dominions, but cannot extend beyond them.

The one true God upholds all things in His own power. He must ensure the stars hang in their proper sphere, that the tides roll appropriately, that His plan for humanity continues correctly, and so much more. For God to be able to do everything He does according to His word, He must be spirit, capable of being in all places.

Bible Verses Supporting God’s Omnipresence

God not only affirmed His omnipresence through direct statement, He used the writers of the Old and New Testaments to state His unique ability to be everywhere at the same time.

Some of the verses that support this belief in God’s omnipresence include, but are not limited to:

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27).

“For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps” (Job 34:21).

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7-10).

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2).

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

God’s Omnipotence: Hopeful or Fearful?

For the believer who has put their faith in Jesus Christ, believing that His death atoned for our sins, that we are free from the punishment for our sins, and that we will have eternal life through the power of His resurrection, God’s omnipresence is a comfort. He is always with us. He is always available when we need Him and is never far away.

He is not a God who sits on high looking down at the mortals as if they were mere insects. He loves humanity and is with us at all times. If someone does not yet know Jesus Christ as their Savior, God’s omnipresence can be a source of fear or hope. It means He is everywhere, seeing each sinful action and hearing each wicked thought. But it also means the moment someone is willing to cry out to Him, repent of that sin, and accept the free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus, He is right there waiting to embrace them with open arms.

Sources
Andrews, Edward. CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY The Christian's Ultimate Guide to Learning from the Bible. eBook: Christian Publishing House, 2024.
MacArthur, John. The God Who Loves. Nashville: W. Publishing Group, 2001.
Pink, Arthur. The Nature of God. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Marisa9

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.