Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, January 21, 2023
Shabbat Shalom,
Day 27: Evening
The Lord Sees Us Through and Through
by David Harwood
Who would imagine that our Creator is seeking us? Who would have thought that our alienation from God would produce a sense of loss in Him? Over the centuries it’s been taught that God cannot be moved by anything outside of Himself. Yet, in the Incarnation we see the image of the Creator effected by His creation.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15 TLV)
In Yeshua we see the relationally interactive God. He was constantly initiating and responding to the people around Him.
He is the preexistent divine Word Who became human “and took up residence among us (John 1:14b NET).” It’s like God moving into our neighborhood.
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 TLV)
This is the same Lord God of Whom we read in Genesis. It is written that He sees us.
So she called Adonai who was speaking to her, “You are the God who sees me.” For she said, “Would I have gone here indeed looking for Him who looks after me?” (Genesis 16:13 TLV)
He sees us through and through. Psalm 139 contains verses that can help us consider that truth. Here are some of them:
Adonai, You searched me and know me. Whenever I sit down or stand up, You know it. You discern my thinking from afar. You observe my journeying and my resting and You are familiar with all my ways. (Psalm 139:1-3 TLV)
If I say: “Surely darkness covers me, night keeps light at a distance from me,” even darkness is not dark for You, and night is as bright as day— darkness and light are alike. (Psalm 139:11-12 TLV)
My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was unformed and in Your book were written, the days that were formed— when not one of them had come to be. (Psalm 139:15-16 TLV)
As if those truths were not enough, the psalmist asked for more. David wanted the God Who knew him to intensify His knowledge of him and to reveal what He saw to him.
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me, and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any offensive way within me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 TLV)
I find this to be an amazing display of trust.
Here’s a truth that’s hard to take. Our Creator not only sees us, but He is also the God Who looks for us.
Then Adonai Elohim called to the man and He said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9 TLV)
He was seeking Adam’s affectionate trust.
(Adam) said, ““Your sound—I heard it in the garden and I was afraid. Because I am naked, I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10 TLV)
Like the first humans, we’re the ones who are hiding, yet we tend to think that God is hiding Himself. If we stop hiding, maybe we’ll find Him, too. One way I think we hide is when we pretend we can accomplish the Great Command without His relational help. Let’s stop pretending and confess our need.
We can avail ourselves of His assistance as we trust that He is after our hearts’ affections. Let’s trust that He is truly seeking us and open up our souls to Him, confessing our need, asking for help. He wants to reveal Himself to us in such a way that we would love Him with all we are.
Yeshua reveals the searching God.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)
He is looking for those who seek Him. Most don’t.
Adonai looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. (Psalm 14:2)
However, our Lord is searching for the searchers. He will reward them.
Take heart. As you seek Him, you will find Him.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarsson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 21-Jan-2023 28th of Tevet, 5783 Parashat Vaera
Ex 9:17-35 Ez 28:25-29:21 2 Th 1:1-14