People Who Saw or Experienced God

December 26, 2024

There are numerous accounts in religious traditions where individuals claim to have experienced or seen God, either directly or in a profound spiritual encounter. These incidents can vary widely depending on religious context and interpretation. Below are a few well-known incidents from various religious traditions where individuals are said to have seen or encountered God:

1. Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-6)

  • Incident: One of the most famous biblical accounts is of Moses encountering God in the form of a burning bush. While Moses was tending to his father-in-law's sheep on Mount Horeb, he saw a bush that was on fire but not consumed by the flames. When he approached the bush, God spoke to him from within the fire, revealing His name as "I AM" and instructing Moses to go to Egypt and free the Israelites.

  • Significance: This is a direct encounter with God, where Moses is chosen to lead God's people. God’s presence in the fire is often interpreted as a symbol of divine holiness and power.

2. The Apostle Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9:3-6)

  • Incident: Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, had a dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. A blinding light from heaven suddenly surrounded him, and he heard the voice of Jesus saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" After this encounter, Saul (later Paul) was blinded and later healed, and he became one of the most influential apostles in Christianity.

  • Significance: This event is considered one of the most transformative in Christian history, marking the conversion of Saul and the beginning of his ministry as Paul. It is seen as a direct encounter with the risen Christ, and the experience is interpreted as an awakening to God’s will.

3. The Prophet Isaiah's Vision (Isaiah 6:1-5)

  • Incident: The prophet Isaiah has a vision of God seated on a throne, high and exalted, with angels surrounding Him. The vision takes place in the temple, and Isaiah is overwhelmed by God's holiness. He recognizes his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of his people. God purifies Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar, and he is then commissioned by God to deliver a message to the people of Israel.

  • Significance: This vision is often cited as an example of God revealing His presence and holiness to a prophet, as well as the transformative power of God’s forgiveness.

4. The Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36)

  • Incident: In this event, Jesus takes three of His disciples—Peter, James, and John—up a mountain where His appearance is changed. His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear alongside Him, and a voice from the cloud declares, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" The disciples are terrified and fall on their faces, but Jesus reassures them.

  • Significance: The Transfiguration is considered a key moment in the New Testament, where the divine glory of Jesus is revealed. The event shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah), and it is a direct encounter with God’s glory.

5. The Vision of St. Paul (2 Corinthians 12:1-4)

  • Incident: The apostle Paul recounts an experience of being caught up to the "third heaven" or the "paradise," where he heard things that cannot be expressed in words. While Paul does not give a full description of the event, he implies that it was a direct experience of the divine.

  • Significance: This vision is often interpreted as a spiritual encounter with God, and Paul’s reluctance to boast about it emphasizes the humility and sacredness of the experience.

6. The Vision of Saint Teresa of Ávila

  • Incident: Saint Teresa of Ávila, a 16th-century Spanish mystic and reformer of the Carmelite Order, described several profound mystical experiences in which she encountered God. One of the most famous is the vision of God’s love, where she was overwhelmed by a sense of union with God. In her writings, she described her mystical experiences as moments of intense spiritual ecstasy and closeness to God.

  • Significance: Teresa’s visions were part of her deep spiritual journey and are seen by many as a profound personal encounter with God’s presence and love.

7. St. John’s Vision on the Island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9-20)

  • Incident: The apostle John, in exile on the island of Patmos, has a vision of the risen Christ. He sees Christ in His glory, with a voice like a trumpet, and is instructed to write down what he sees and send it to the seven churches. This vision is the beginning of the book of Revelation and includes a detailed description of Christ's appearance and messages for the churches.

  • Significance: The vision is often interpreted as a direct revelation from Christ, revealing His divine authority and the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom. It is also the basis of the apocalyptic visions that follow in the book of Revelation.

8. Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi'raj)

  • Incident: In Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad experienced a miraculous night journey (Isra) from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended (Mi'raj) through the heavens. During this journey, Muhammad is said to have met previous prophets and encountered the presence of God (Allah). In the highest heavens, Muhammad is believed to have been in the presence of Allah.

  • Significance: This event is one of the most important in Islam, representing both Muhammad’s spiritual elevation and his unique position among the prophets. The experience of being in God’s presence is seen as a profound spiritual event in Islamic tradition.

9. The Apparitions of the Virgin Mary

  • Incident: Numerous people, particularly in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, have reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary, in which they claim to have seen her and, in some cases, received messages from her. Famous instances include the apparitions at Lourdes (1858) in France and Fatima (1917) in Portugal.

  • Significance: While not a direct sighting of God the Father, these apparitions are often considered a form of divine revelation or intervention, with the Virgin Mary being seen as an intermediary.

10. Mahatma Gandhi's Encounter with God

  • Incident: Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, often spoke of his encounters with God through prayer, fasting, and meditation. In his autobiography, Gandhi describes moments of deep spiritual experiences in which he felt a sense of divine presence and guidance.

  • Significance: Gandhi's spiritual philosophy was rooted in a personal relationship with God, whom he referred to as "Truth" and "Soul Force." His experiences of God shaped his nonviolent philosophy of life.

Conclusion:

These accounts, whether from scripture, mysticism, or personal testimony, share a common theme of an encounter with the divine that transforms the individual. These moments are often seen as revelations of God’s presence, power, holiness, and love. While the interpretations of such experiences vary across cultures and religious traditions, the core idea of encountering the divine remains central to many faiths.