Wednesday 7 September 2011

FOR ME TO FOLLOW GOD


The single most important lesson we can learn from Hagar's life, is that God see.  There is many names for Jehova in the Bible, and each one reveals something about His character and power.  El Roi, "The God that See", is a name given to God by the female Egyptian slave, Hagar.

To have been a slave, was to be someone who had no rights or place in life.  Slaves were the 'unseen' in the society.  Like many others, Hagar was used for the selfish desires of her owners.  Their pleasure was her pain.  Although not without sin (nobody is!),she was still the victim.

But her situation was not hopeless, for the God of Hope had seen.  What an awesome change arise when we realise that our loving heavenly Father see us, and He knows.  He is aware of everything.

How does Hagar's revelation apply to your life today? Write down the painful things others have done to you, impossible situations you are finding yourself in, and sinful things you have done, and thought you could hide from God.

God see, nothing escapes Him. What we thought could be hidden in the darkness, He had already seen.  (Psalms 139:12)  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.  The Lord has seen what others had done to me.  He also saw when I went off track and experienced trials and tribulations.  He also saw the things I did and which I'd hidden.    The most important is, He doesn't only know that I've done it, He also knows why I've done it. (1 Corinthians 4:5)  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.  This exposition of our hearts is not only meant for God to punish us for what we've done wrong, but also for Him to praise us for the good we've done.

Look at what you've written down about the painful things others have done to you.  Firstly admit, that God sees every single experience you've had.  He knows what the offender has done to you.  God is aware of it! He will sort this out, in His time.  You must also admit that God is sovereign, He might also take these bad things in your life, and use it to your benefit. (Romans 8:28)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Secondly, you have to admit that God is sovereign, and that He sees your intolerable circumstances.  Hagar's desperate need for water was not coincidental, but part of God's plan.  God wanted her to know what thirst feels like, in order for her to get to know Him as the One who could quence her thirst and provide for her needs.  He had to bring her to the end of her own abilities, so that she could find Him as the fountain of living water.  Use the impossible aspects of your current circumstances as an opportunity to call to God who sees and hears.  Let Him show you the well which He wants you to find.

God sees your pain.  God sees your need.  And God see your sin.  Nothing is hidden from Him.  The knowledge of this makes His love even more wonderful.    The thing that is the most difficult for me, is to admit that God saw the sinful things I tried to hide from Him.  When a criminal makes an admittance to the police, he tells them something they don't know.  This is not the case with God!  He already knows everything, even before we repented.  Why then still repent?  The answer to this question is one of the deepest things you can ever understand about the meaning of communion with Christ.  Confession of sin is not for the sake of God, but for your sake.

Look at what King David learned from his sin with Batseba - (Psalms 32:3)  When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.(Psalms 32:4)  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.  Even when nobody else saw, God did.  Even when nobody knew, God did.  Even before David's sin came to light, he had to carry the consequences.   His life changed from a meaningful satisfying life to a mere existence.  His happiness was gone, and even his health was affected.

What change does confession of sin bring to light?  David writes : (Psalms 32:1)  A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
(Psalms 32:2)  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.(Psalms 32:5)  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

We don't only have the need to confess our sin, but we also have to agree with God that it is forgiven.  We then have to agree with Him, that we need His help and strength to turn away from sin.

It doesn't matter what other people have done, or are doing to you, they cannot ruin God's plan for you.  God sees your need, and He await your call.  It is not that He cannot help you before you call, but it is in order for you to realise that it is He who helps you.

"The God who sees", is the God who hears.  You can rejoice in the fact that He also sees your sin ..... because despite the fact that He sees your sin, He still loves you!











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