Can A Man Hide Himself?
Jeremiah 23:24 (ESV) – Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.
One night we had friends over to the house and the power went out. These were close friends, so there was no formality happening. Everyone was comfortable and waiting for the lights to come back on. It was so dark inside the house because not even outside street lights brought any help to see. The moon was covered in clouds. Darkness reigned. I can’t remember whose idea it was, but we decided it was the perfect time for a game of hide-and-seek. My girls were excited. We divided up everyone into teams. I had my two girls on my team, everyone else had a single partner. It was so much fun. But on one occasion, my daughters and I were hiding behind the piano and one of the teams looked behind the piano and stared at us, but they couldn’t tell we were there. They even talked about how they couldn’t tell, then moved on. We hid in plain sight and they couldn’t see us.
This story leads us into our text today, because unlike the example in the story, the Bible makes it clear that not even our best efforts can hide us from God. There is no escaping His all-seeing eyes. There is nowhere we can go where He doesn’t know. We read in Jeremiah 23:24, “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.”
Why can’t we hide from God? Not because He is simply able to see all things. It is because He fills all things. Think about this truth. God can see everything because His presence fills the heavens and the earth. Think about that idea. He is not a creature localized like we are in a body. I’m in a room right now, and while I’m in the room, I don’t fill the room. My presence is in it and my ears can hear things happening and see things, but I don’t fill the room. It would be easy for you to hide or be silent, and I would not know you were present.
Not with God. He fills the heavens and earth. This means that no matter where you are or where you go, He is there. His presence fills the space.
Repent from any ideas that we can hide or deceive God. There is nothing hidden from Him. Confess sins and repent from them. But also, be comforted that He fills all things. This means that you are never alone when you are fearful, worried, or hurt.
The God who fills heaven and earth is near to you. Reach out to Him today.
Reflection & Journal:
- Why is it impressive that God fills all things, not just sees or knows all things?
- What are applications for people today that God fills heaven and earth? What are some truths this makes clear?
- How are you going to let this passage guide you? What is your take-away today?
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