...and God knew.

Exodus has been really rich for me this time through. So much so that when I tried to move to another book, I was drawn back. So now I'm just hanging out, trying to plumb the depths of this great book.

I'm one of those people who writes in my Bible. And you could probably tell in which books I've spent the most time by how much color is on the pages. Yesterday I read chapter one, and it is really marked up. Today I noticed, as I was reading, that there is almost no color on chapter two. Because I know how much color is in the remaining chapters, I found this lack interesting. So when I reached the underlined phrase at the end, it really packed a punch.

...and God knew.
Exodus 2:25b

God has shown Himself, throughout Genesis, to be intimately interested and involved in the lives of His creatures. He sees them. He walks among them. He grieves over their sin. He preserves them in times of difficulty. He promises and provides good for them. And in two verses here in Exodus, God heard, remembered, saw, and knew. Which got me thinking...

He knew their pain in slavery. He knew their hopelessness under the burdens of the Egyptians. He knew His promise to make them a nation with a land of their own. And He knew His plan for accomplishing that promise. Which means...

He knows my pain as I struggle with the idols of my weak, sinful heart. He knows His promise to one day fully free me from my sin. And He knows His plan for accomplishing that glorious promise. Which brings us to Jesus.

Jesus is the promised Son who crushed the serpent's head.

Jesus is the perfect Lamb of sacrifice.

Jesus is the King who leads His people faithfully.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-- every one-- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53: 4-6

Hidden Beauty

I've been reading in Exodus during my devotions the last few weeks. This is not my first trip through, and I was struck again by the overwhelming beauty of the tabernacle. So much gold and silver and jewels. The vibrant red, blue, and purple embroidery. The intricate details of the furniture in the tabernacle proper. Then I remembered that, apart from the first generation of Israelites who helped build it, only the priests saw it. The embroidered curtains of the tabernacle were covered with plain old goat skin. Great for weatherproofing, but not terribly attractive. And even the Levites, who were appointed to carry the tabernacle furniture when their camp moved, weren't allowed to come get it until it was covered up by the priests. So all that extravagant beauty was hidden from the majority of the people.

Fast forward a few thousand years, and a lot has changed. God's people are no longer bound to a geographic location or a particular bloodline. We are told in John's gospel that those who worship God will worship in spirit and truth. The good news that Christ died for sinners is being proclaimed around the globe. We have access, through Christ, into the intimate presence of God. And yet I began to wonder if I am hiding the beauty of Christ. I've been called to proclaim the beauty of the gospel. But am I, by my words and actions (or lack thereof), hiding it instead? Have I taken my proverbial lamp and stuck it under a basket?

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 
Matthew 5:13-16