Can God Not See?

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 10:21, When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found.

This may seem like a strange approach in presenting Saul as the first king of Israel (humanly speaking, as God was their real first and only true King). However, this was a wise move in that by having all the clans gather and choosing Saul by lots, which was of the Lord, showed them that even though each clan had equal opportunity, it was God who made the ultimate decision. So it is in our lives. God has a plan for each of us, and He will be the One who chooses what that plan is, what role we will play in that plan, when and how it will play out and come to pass. This role that Saul would play as king was not one that God had to suddenly think of because of Israel's rejection. God had chosen Saul to be king long before Israel ever made the decision to request a king. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Galatians 1:15-16 also says, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood". So it was with Saul that God chose Him even before officially calling him; and so it is with us that God already had a plan for us, even before we were born. Knowing the hardness of Israel's heart, lots were cast to show them that there was no favoritism on Samuel's behalf in choosing the Tribe of Benjamin, Saul's family, or Saul himself. Saul, knowing that he was already chosen, as communicated to him previously by Samuel, chose to hide himself (v.22). This was either a great act of humility, or a result of fear; fear of the responsibility that would come with leading such a stiffnecked people. Possible evidence of Saul's tendencies to shrink away and hide were evident when he refused to go out and face Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Regardless of the reason, what we see here is that when God has chosen us for a task, or chosen us to accomplish something in His Name, no matter where we go in an attempt to escape, we cannot hide from God. In verse 22 the people sought Saul and could not find him, but God knew exactly where he was, and what he was doing. In Jeremiah 23:24 the Lord asked "Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?" Psalm 139 clearly tells us that there is no place we can go, even the depths of hell, to escape God's presence. Jonah thought he could run and hide from God when God told him to go to Nineveh and preach to that evil nation. In the end, he found that there was no place he could run to, in order to escape what God had already planned for his life. Life can take all kinds of twists and turns. The detours may come from our own decisions, or the decisions and attempted interference by others. However, no matter what we do or others try, we have a God who is faithful, who will eventually bring us to the exact place He wants us to be, to accomplish exactly what He desires, for His glory. When we see Saul's hiding place, we cannot help but stop and think, "How foolish. Do you think that God cannot see you?" Well, maybe we need to stop and observe where we might be trying to go to hide from God and His plan for our lives, and ask ourselves the same exact question.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).