A GOD THAT HIDES HIMSELF -- Tomorrow:
"Truly, Thou art a God Who hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior" -- Isaiah 45:15
THINGS THAT ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL
Faith, among other things, involves the ability to intently behold and consider things that cannot be seen. Thus it is said of Moses, "he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb 11:27). It is elsewhere affirmed that God is "the invisible God" (Col 1:15), and that He is not only eternal and immortal, but "invisible" (1 Tim 1:17). The word "invisible" does not mean microscopic, yet visible with the aid of some form of magnification or enhancement. In Scripture, what is "invisible" cannot be seen apart from Divine assistance or enablement.
This, of course, is one of the primary reasons God can "hide Himself." Things that lie beyond the range of the natural senses are, by that very circumstance, hidden to the sons of men. A few examples will suffice to establish this reality.
The presence of Pharaoh was by Divine appointment. Of him God said, "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth" (Rom 9:17; Ex 9:16). No worldly historian has never concluded this. No amount of intellectual or logical superiority has ever led anyone to this conclusion. It is something that had to be revealed. God is a God that hides Himself.
God raised up Cyrus, heathen king, employing him to build His city without wages or reward. It is written of this king, "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:1-3). The use of Cyrus by God was not evident. No earthly historian ever concluded Cyrus was used by God! God is a God that hides Himself!
When David numbered Israel, he sinned against the Lord by leaning to his own understanding. It is written, "Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." Joab warned him against this action, yet David did not heed his word (1 Chron 21:1-4). However, something more was involved than meets the eye. In the record of this event in Second Samuel, it is written, "And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah" (2 Sam 24:1). Surely, God is a God that hides Himself!
On another occasion, Samson, judge of Israel, sought a wife from the heathen Philistines. His father and mother counseled him against this action, saying, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" Stubbornly, Samson ignored their counsel and said to his father, "Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well." But behind the scenes, more was going on than either Samson or his parents knew. It is written, "But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel" (Judges 14:1-4). Indeed, God is a God that hides Himself!
When dealing with matters that are not apparent, we do well to temper our judgment with the understanding that God is a God that hides Himself. Yet, while He is hiding Himself, He is still at work for our ultimate good.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to consider more consistently that You are at work, even though I cannot see it. Remove from me the tendency to think extensively upon what men are doing, and even what my adversary the devil is doing.