It’s easy to get the impression that God is way up there in heaven and really doesn’t know that much about us individually, but that way of thinking is far from the truth.
Psalm 139:1 (ESV) — 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
The verse is taken from a series of declarations from the psalmist who realized first-hand how God knew more about him than he could imagine. The knowledge of God would scare us because He knows our thoughts before we think them and our words even before we speak them.
Psalm 139:1–6 (ESV) — 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
We could run with this truth of God’s omniscience in a way to make us know that we cannot hide from Him or try to keep things from Him. It’s a vain thing to assume you can sin and He does not see it. Rather than run on that track, let’s focus in on God knowing about us and all our hurts. Jesus reminded us that He who cares for sparrows cares much more for us, even the details about our lives that we don’t even think important.
Luke 12:6–7 (ESV) — 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
We are told that the Lord Jesus Christ is such a great high priest that He so identifies with us and our infirmities, that His work of intercession is one of sympathy and care. Unlike a priest like Eli, who accused Hanna of drunkenness when she pleaded with God out of a broken heart.
Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV) — 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
It gets even better as we consider the work of the Holy Spirit, Who connects with us as He prompts us to pray, encourages us as we pray, help us to pray, and even assures us that we belong to God.
Romans 8:15–26 (ESV) — 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Yes, God really does know you. In fact, we should remember that God knew all about you before He created the world and in His divine covenant determined to love you, redeem you, and make you His adopted child.
Ephesians 1:3–6 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Whenever we have doubts of God’s care for us or feel like we are so insignificant that He doesn’t know about our needs, we should go to the word of God and see how God has addressed such a need in the past.
Isaiah 49:13–16 (ESV) — 13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. 14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
John 10:27–30 (ESV) — 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
