In Romans 1, Paul portrays a humanity that suppresses the truth that God exists in unrighteousness. God has therefore withdrawn Himself in this time. In the language of the Hebrew Bible: God hides His face (Deut. 31:17-18). But although God hides Himself, every human being can know that God exists, so that they are without excuse.
Romans 1
19 because, namely, that which is knowable of God is manifest in their midst, for God makes it manifest to them.
20 For what is invisible of Him, His unperceptible power and divinity, is seen through from the creation of the world, because it is understood in His works, so that they cannot be defended.
invisible
God is the invisible God (Col. 1:15) and in this time He has delivered humanity over (Rom. 1:24, 26 and 28). But although He is invisible and does not actively concern Himself with humanity as such, every human being can know Him. For everything He has made, all His creations, bear witness to the fact that there is a Creator.
Seeing through and understanding
Paul says that what is invisible of Him is seen through in creation, for it is understood in His creations (>makings). This goes much further than the idea that creation is so beautiful and special that there must be a God. The thought is that in everything the invisible God has made, He expresses Himself visibly. Everything speaks of Him! Just as an artist (see Heb. 11:10 Dutch Statenvertaling) expresses Himself in his works of art.
From a blade of grass to the constellations in the firmament, from the world’s oceans to a caterpillar that becomes a butterfly, everything bears witness to the Creator and His mighty deeds!