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He saw-He knew
Justin SmithExodus 2:23-25
During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Have you ever felt alone and hopeless, as though you had no one to turn to and even your prayers seemed to float off into space unheard? Have you ever felt so burdened, so overwhelmed, so hard pressed that you felt like giving up? This is the condition we find the Israelites in this morning. The yoke of slavery was being tightened, the oppression was increasing, and discouragement and depression were growing in the ranks. The promises of God’s calling, of His comfort, of His covering seemed impossible, and their faith was growing slim. It was in this moment of desperation that “God saw”… “and God knew”; promising phrases that produce peace in the midst of persecution and problems.
“God saw”- He had not left them, He had not forsaken them, He had not abandoned them, but He remained and saw. Even when they felt alone, they never were because He was with them. Not only was He with them, but because we know He is love, we are assured that He watched over them in love, to care for, provide for, and to deliver. He saw every injustice, every heartache, every hurt, and His promise to work out all things together for good always has, always does, and always will remain Truth.
“God knew”- He knew. He knew each one by name. He knew every hair on their heads. He knew each struggle, each situation, and each shed tear. He knew their discouragement and exhaustion. Beyond that, He knew His plan; His plan to redeem, restore, and re-direct them to the Promised Land. He knew what needed to take place, He knew His desired outcome, which was for their blessing and victory, and He knew He had the power to complete it.
When faced with difficult circumstances, these important truths and promises seem to be the first thing to get thrown out the window. Fear, worry, and anxiety overwhelm, and it’s in these moments that I try to “fix” the situation on my own, which inevitably makes things worse. No matter the situations I face, whether good or bad, I must remember that God sees and God knows, for it’s in this assurance that I find peace in the process, comfort in the circumstance, and courage in the chaos. He sees, He knows, and He loves…and that’s all I need to get through the trials of today.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your abundant love and grace that sees me, knows me, and loves me through every circumstance. No matter what I face, I will find peace in your presence, solace in knowing that you see, and comfort in understanding that you know and are able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that I could ask or think. May my faith, thoughts, and actions please you today.
In Jesus name, Amen.
