Hide and Seek

“Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.” (Isa 45:15 AV)

 

Without context, this verse may seem contradictory to other passages of scripture and maybe even a bit troublesome.  Later in the chapter, the prophet indicates just the opposite.  He states that God can be found.  So which is it?  The context of the verse reveals the above statement is written to rebellious Gentiles.  Most commentary writers take the verse to mean God has hidden from pagan nations who want nothing to do with God.  The end of the verse above might indicate their interpretation is correct.  This is not to say God hides from individuals who desire to know Him.  This would not be the God of the Bible.  However, God does hide from nations and groups of people who have decided contrary to their Creator.  I believe that is exactly what we are seeing unfold in our current world and national situations.  This hiding is manifested in lack of blessing and propensity of trouble increasing amid mankind.  Mankind cannot turn their back on God and then expect Him to do their bidding.  He hides Himself from those who wish nothing of Him.

The Song of Solomon is a play written to celebrate love and marriage.  The king falls in love with a beautiful young lady.  They court and then they marry.  Shortly after the honeymoon, it is recorded the husband comes to his bride’s chambers that they might enjoy their love one of another.  However, for whatever reason, she never opens the door to him.  When she thinks the better of it when she opens the door, he is gone.  The next chapter describes the bride’s efforts in finding her spurned husband.  She seeks the help of the daughters of Israel in her efforts.  She seeks the help of the husband's friends and business partners.  She looks high and low.  She seeks him among the flocks.  She is distraught because she knows it was her cold shoulder that caused him to depart.  Finally, she finds him and soon deeply regrets her cavalier attitude towards the interest of her husband.  She vows to never let that happen again.  This book is a perfect picture of the church’s relationship with her Savior and Israel’s relationship with God.  It teaches how easily we spurn the love of God and then regret it when we cannot find Him. 

What is true of the world is also true of the church.  What is true of the church is also true of the individual believer.  God hiding Himself is a scary thought.  Especially in times of trouble when we need Him most.  But this is what we do.  As a habit of life, we tend to please God when it is convenient.  We tend to worship Him when we receive a blessing from Him.  We are in the habit of service or sacrifice not because we truly love Him, but rather, because there is an angle involved for us.  When we mature out of that, then we begin to understand the presence of God is the greatest of all blessings.  We serve because we love.  We worship because we appreciate Him.  We pray because we simply desire to sense the presence of God in our prayer life.  Our prayers change from a laundry list of needs to genuinely working out our salvation in fear and trembling.  We have long discussions with the Spirit over our frailties and hopes for future growth.  We pour our hearts out to the LORD that He might help us to examine them and heal them.  When we ignore God, He hides Himself.  He doesn’t want to.  But, for His own glory, He must.  Otherwise, creation would take advantage of Him and His glory would turn to shame.  The question for us today is:  are we seeking God, or is He hiding from us?