Psalm 139:7-12
As I read this, l am reminded that there is so much we don’t understand. As David said earlier in this psalm, God knows everything about us. He is omniscient, or all-knowing.
A couple of humorous accounts in the Bible come to mind—stories of people who thought they could hide from God. One is about Saul, who was chosen by God to become Israel’s first king. Though he looked the part, he struggled with self-esteem and decided to hide on his inauguration day. We can read about this in 1 Samuel 10:
“So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.””
1 Samuel 10:20-22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1sa.10.20-22.NLT
God always knows where we are!
Another comical account is found 2 Kings 6, which involves the King of Aram, who was at war with Israel. Let’s pick up in verse 8:
“When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.” But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?” “It’s not us, my Lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!””
2 Kings 6:8-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.6.8-12.NLT
God certainly has our number!
And, of course, we all know the story of Jonah. He thought he could run from God, but God arranged an unpleasant encounter with a fish to get him back on track. Amazingly, it took him three days to cry out for help from the belly of the whale! I think I would have cried out the minute I saw the fish.
Jonah 1:17 states:
“Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.”
Jonah 1:17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jon.1.17.NLT
Notice that it states that the Lord arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. How did God do that? He can do whatever He wants—He is God. Not only is He omniscient; He is also omnipotent, meaning all-powerful.
Yet look at what Jonah says in Jonah 2:
“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.”
Jonah 2:1-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jon.2.1-10.NLT
What an amazing story! The beauty of this account is that we are never out of God’s reach—no matter how wayward we become. But we must humble ourselves and call out to Him. Jonah had to be pretty stubborn to wait three days to cry out! What was he thinking? That’s one of the questions I’d like to ask him when I get to heaven. I imagine he has taken some good-natured ribbing for that over the years.
Even as I write this, I find myself once again in awe of God. These accounts have been written down for us so that we can know this wonderful God who loves us, who knows us, who is patient with us, who disciplines us—always for our good—and whose arm is not so short that He cannot save us. Why look anywhere else?
A couple of humorous accounts in the Bible come to mind—stories of people who thought they could hide from God. One is about Saul, who was chosen by God to become Israel’s first king. Though he looked the part, he struggled with self-esteem and decided to hide on his inauguration day. We can read about this in 1 Samuel 10:
“So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.””
1 Samuel 10:20-22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1sa.10.20-22.NLT
God always knows where we are!
Another comical account is found 2 Kings 6, which involves the King of Aram, who was at war with Israel. Let’s pick up in verse 8:
“When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.” But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?” “It’s not us, my Lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!””
2 Kings 6:8-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.6.8-12.NLT
God certainly has our number!
And, of course, we all know the story of Jonah. He thought he could run from God, but God arranged an unpleasant encounter with a fish to get him back on track. Amazingly, it took him three days to cry out for help from the belly of the whale! I think I would have cried out the minute I saw the fish.
Jonah 1:17 states:
“Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.”
Jonah 1:17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jon.1.17.NLT
Notice that it states that the Lord arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. How did God do that? He can do whatever He wants—He is God. Not only is He omniscient; He is also omnipotent, meaning all-powerful.
Yet look at what Jonah says in Jonah 2:
“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.”
Jonah 2:1-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jon.2.1-10.NLT
What an amazing story! The beauty of this account is that we are never out of God’s reach—no matter how wayward we become. But we must humble ourselves and call out to Him. Jonah had to be pretty stubborn to wait three days to cry out! What was he thinking? That’s one of the questions I’d like to ask him when I get to heaven. I imagine he has taken some good-natured ribbing for that over the years.
Even as I write this, I find myself once again in awe of God. These accounts have been written down for us so that we can know this wonderful God who loves us, who knows us, who is patient with us, who disciplines us—always for our good—and whose arm is not so short that He cannot save us. Why look anywhere else?
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