Denzel Washington’s, our Academy Award winning Root 100 honoree, press run in promotion of “Gladiator II” has granted us special gems of moments from the actor’s life over the course of his career. However, only recently did we get a deeper look into his relationship with God.
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In an interview with BBC Radio’s 1Xtra, Washington recalled a moment when he was on a yacht (of course) listening to music and praying. He said his song of choice was “The Face of God” and he began to pray.
“Lord, you know everybody’s singing about the face of God, they can see your face and I want to see your face,” Washington said.
While he was in prayer, asking God to reveal His face, the actor said he heard “turn to the left.” When he turned, he said he looked around and picked up his phone to snap a picture of the sky. However, he noticed he captured something miraculous on camera. In the live interview, he leaned over and showed radio host Nadia Jae the image he took.
The two then gawked over what appeared in the frame, something so shocking it was too good to be a mere coincidence. In the clouds, floating above the water appeared to be the image of a nose, lips and eyes looked to in the clouds - as if God answered his request.
While the scripture says seeing God’s face is a rather fatal encounter - “’But,’ He said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live,’” (Exodus 33:20) - many people have had experiences where they believe God showed Himself to them whether in the image of a beautiful sunset or a supernatural encounter. This moment Washington encountered was another example of what believers consider to be part of God’s faithfulness.
Washington has always spoken on his Christianity and relationship with God, including the powerful commencement speech he delivered at Dillard University encouraging students to “put God first.”
“Everything that you think you see in me. Everything that I’ve accomplished, everything that you think I have – and I have a few things. Everything that I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift,” he said to the crowd of college graduates. “I didn’t always stick with him but he always stuck with me.”
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