--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we see in these passages is God…" description: "\"“What we see in these passages is God meeting people, tribes, and cultures right where they are and drawing and inviting and calling them forward, into..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/rob-bell-1025_human-history_what-we-see-in-these-passages-is-god-mee_428704.png" --- # What we see in these passages is God meeting people… ![“What we see in these passages is God meeting people, tribes, and cultures right where they are and drawing and inviting and calling them forward, into greater and greater shalom and respect and rights and peace and dignity and equality. It's as if human history were progressing along a trajectory…” quote by Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/rob-bell-1025_human-history_what-we-see-in-these-passages-is-god-mee_428704.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/rob-bell-1025_human-history_what-we-see-in-these-passages-is-god-mee_428704.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/rob-bell-1025_human-history_what-we-see-in-these-passages-is-god-mee_428704.png) > ““What we see in these passages is God meeting people, tribes, and cultures right where they are and drawing and inviting and calling them forward, into greater and greater shalom and respect and rights and peace and dignity and equality. It's as if human history were progressing along a trajectory, an arc, a continuum; and sacred history is the capturing and recording of those moments when people became aware that they were being called and drawn and pulled forward by the divine force and power and energy that gives life to everything.”” [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes divine encounters that guide humanity toward greater peace, dignity, and equality, viewing history as a progressive arc shaped by sacred forces. **In simple terms:** Divine guidance moves humanity toward justice and peace. Key Takeaway Recognize moments of spiritual awakening. Themes spirituality history justice Mood inspirational hopeful Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - social activism - interfaith dialogue - personal reflection Key Concepts divine purpose human progress Questions to Reflect On - How do we identify sacred moments in history? - What role does divine guidance play in social change? A Different Perspective The view may oversimplify complex historical conflicts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-history/) [Meeting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meeting-people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) ## Related quotes > [“Read the following passages of God's word, and see if religion be a light and easy work. "Seek first the kingdom of God, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/read-the-following-passages-of-god-s-word-and-see-if-religion-be-a/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) > [...it is not the obscure passages in Scripture that bind you but the ones you understand. With these you are to comply at once.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/it-is-not-the-obscure-passages-in-scripture-that-bind-you-but-the/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [The history of religions reaches down and makes contact with that which is essentially human: the relation of man to the sacred. The history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mircea-eliade/the-history-of-religions-reaches-down-and-makes-contact-with-that/) [Mircea Eliade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mircea-eliade/) > [“Mythology can be defined as the sacred history of humankind. This is different from what we call "history." Mythical stories, when you trace them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-hausman/mythology-can-be-defined-as-the-sacred-history-of-humankind-this-is/) [Gerald Hausman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-hausman/) > [There’s a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ, and from its origin, it has meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/there-s-a-long-and-sacred-history-of-the-use-of-x-to-symbolize-the/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“All that we call sacred history attests that the birth of a poet is the principal event in chronology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-that-we-call-sacred-history-attests-that-the-birth-of-a-poet-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Religion is concerned not with genuine history, but with sacred history, which does not course through time like a river. Rather, sacred history is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/religion-is-concerned-not-with-genuine-history-but-with-sacred/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [Mythology can be defined as the sacred history of humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-hausman/mythology-can-be-defined-as-the-sacred-history-of-humankind/) [Gerald Hausman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-hausman/) > [To make it really clear and simple, let's call this movement across history we see in passages like the ones we just looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/to-make-it-really-clear-and-simple-let-s-call-this-movement-across/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Poetry has always mattered, through human history, through all kinds of cultures, all kinds of violence and human desolation, as well as periods of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/poetry-has-always-mattered-through-human-history-through-all-kinds-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Most single people I know, myself included, have a difficult time even meeting up with the people they like, be it busy schedules, texting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/most-single-people-i-know-myself-included-have-a-difficult-time-even/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [The clashes of people and the clashes of cultures have assisted me in learning the openness you have to be a part of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kissey/the-clashes-of-people-and-the-clashes-of-cultures-have-assisted-me-in/) [Kissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kissey/) > [I love meeting people who've read my books. The prime reason to be on the planet is to make things I can show to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-love-meeting-people-who-ve-read-my-books-the-prime-reason-to-be-on/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Sometimes I have a little social anxiety, and meeting people can be a challenge for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coy-bowles/sometimes-i-have-a-little-social-anxiety-and-meeting-people-can-be-a/) [Coy Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coy-bowles/) > [The journey that I have undertaken, meeting people from all walks of life and learning from them, has been my biggest achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-khan/the-journey-that-i-have-undertaken-meeting-people-from-all-walks-of/) [Aamir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-khan/) ## More by Rob Bell > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Why blame the dark for being dark? It is far more helpful to ask why the light isn’t as bright as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/why-blame-the-dark-for-being-dark-it-is-far-more-helpful-to-ask-why/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“This story... blasts to pieces our biases and labels with a declaration that God is on everyone's side, extending grace and compassion to everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/this-story-blasts-to-pieces-our-biases-and-labels-with-a-declaration/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [One truth is that suffering raises profound questions with the universe. The other truth is that grace, gift and generosity also raise profound questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/one-truth-is-that-suffering-raises-profound-questions-with-the/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [For Jesus, heaven and hell were present realities. Ways of living we can enter into here and now. He talked very little of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/for-jesus-heaven-and-hell-were-present-realities-ways-of-living-we/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Love is what God is, love is why Jesus came, and love is why he continues to come, year after year to person after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/love-is-what-god-is-love-is-why-jesus-came-and-love-is-why-he/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [I believe that God is love. I believe that Jesus came to show us this love, to give us this love, to teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/i-believe-that-god-is-love-i-believe-that-jesus-came-to-show-us-this/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody. And this is because the most powerful things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news-2/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“I don’t read the Bible like a flat line. I don’t see all of the passages in the Bible sitting equally side by side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/i-don-t-read-the-bible-like-a-flat-line-i-don-t-see-all-of-the/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [To elevate abstract doctrines and dogmas over living, breathing, embodied experiences of God's love and grace, then, is going the wrong direction. It's taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/to-elevate-abstract-doctrines-and-dogmas-over-living-breathing/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [The modern world has created airports and hospitals and put 10,000 songs in our pocket. It has built gleaming buildings and computers and advances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/the-modern-world-has-created-airports-and-hospitals-and-put-10-000/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [God is bigger than the Christian faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/god-is-bigger-than-the-christian-faith/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [What you believe about the future shapes, informs, and determines how you live now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/what-you-believe-about-the-future-shapes-informs-and-determines-how/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [The life you want begins by embracing the life you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/the-life-you-want-begins-by-embracing-the-life-you-have/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [It takes quite a spine to turn the other cheek. It takes phenomenal fortitude to love your enemy. It takes firm resolve to pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/it-takes-quite-a-spine-to-turn-the-other-cheek-it-takes-phenomenal/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) [Explore all 305 Rob Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) ## More Human history quotes > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Only twenty - nine years in the entire human history had been without warfare, and now here he was too, travelling between the episodes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadeem-aslam/only-twenty-nine-years-in-the-entire-human-history-had-been-without/) [Nadeem Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadeem-aslam/) > [Christmas is all about surrender. It's all about the surrender of the Son to obey the perfect will of the Father and enter human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/christmas-is-all-about-surrender-it-s-all-about-the-surrender-of-the/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [Plague has hung over human history. The biggest human extinction was after 1492 in North and South America when the mortality rate was 95…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/plague-has-hung-over-human-history-the-biggest-human-extinction-was/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Human history’s the most funny and yet the most tragic discovery will be the discovery of the religious people that all religions are man-made!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/human-history-s-the-most-funny-and-yet-the-most-tragic-discovery-will/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The uniqueness of the United States in human history is the United States is the first global power in human history which emerged far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-davutoglu/the-uniqueness-of-the-united-states-in-human-history-is-the-united/) [Ahmet Davutoglu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-davutoglu/) > [If you look at all of the villains in the course of human history, they've all believed, delusionally, in the virtue of their actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/if-you-look-at-all-of-the-villains-in-the-course-of-human-history/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [The true horrors of human history derive not from orcs and Dark Lords, but from ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/the-true-horrors-of-human-history-derive-not-from-orcs-and-dark-lords/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [The idea of nature contains, though often unnoticed, an extraordinary amount of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-williams/the-idea-of-nature-contains-though-often-unnoticed-an-extraordinary/) [Raymond Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-williams/) > [Human history, like all great movements, was cyclical, and returned to the point of beginning. The idea of indefinite progress in a right line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/human-history-like-all-great-movements-was-cyclical-and-returned-to/) [Edward Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bellamy/) > [I think the rise of China is one of the great events of all economic and human history, and I think this will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-keating/i-think-the-rise-of-china-is-one-of-the-great-events-of-all-economic/) [Paul Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-keating/) > [For our hope in the future is cosmic, forging human history into eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-our-hope-in-the-future-is-cosmic-forging-human-history-into/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The EU Constitution is something new in human history. Though it is not as eloquent as the French and U.S. constitutions, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-eu-constitution-is-something-new-in-human-history-though-it-is/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) [Browse all 497 Human history quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What we see in these passages is God meeting people, tribes, and cultures right where they are and drawing and inviting and calling them forward, into greater and greater shalom and respect and rights and peace and dignity and equality. 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