The Disciples Ambition

‘O Lord , you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord , you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. ‘

Psalm 139:1-6

This morning I sat down to read the book of Exodus for a college assignment I had due this evening. As I began reading, I was sort of skimming through the passages I thought I knew well, but then Exodus 2:25 seemed to jump right off the page and slap me in the face.

“God saw the people of Israel-and God knew.”

Exodus 2:25

The context is that the Israelites are struggling and groaning under the weight of their oppression. They are crying out to the Lord and are desperate for His salvation. As I read this verse God spoke right into my heart and I was broken. God not only saw the struggles of the people, but He knew the struggles.

He didn’t just know the struggles of His people intellectually; He knew the struggles of the people of Israel like Adam knew His wife in Genesis 4:1; intimately.

This sort of knowledge not only sits in the mind, but it leads to action. The Creator of the universe saw the pain and struggles of His people, He knew the struggles of His people, and He did something about it. As I dwelt on the verse I was led to tears. The tears streamed down my face as God spoke the idea into my heart that He sees me. He knows me, He loves me, and He is pursuing me.

THIS understanding of God’s love is crucial for life with Him. He is not just some being in the sky who sits in Heaven judging the earth. He intimately knows and loves each of us. He knows us and wants us. He wants us to cry out and search for Him, because He longs to love us and fight for us.

I have never been an emotional person, but when you begin to truly KNOW the love of God, you have no choice but to weep. It is the most precious treasure you will ever receive.

The Father is in constant pursuit of His people and desperately loves them. Take Joshua for example. When Joshua was being called by God to lead the people of Israel, God speaks right into Joshua’s heart by saying:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

The Lord repeats these words to Joshua many times over to remind him that God is with Him. Why would the Lord do that? Because He knew Joshua. He knew his fears and He knew his doubts. God spoke right into the heart of Joshua because He knew what Joshua needed.

Knowing God:

God is desperate to know and be known by His people. The relationship cannot just be one-sided. God knows us, and wants us to know Him too.

To know God, we must begin by searching for Him with all of our Heart.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

He wants us to long for Him like He longs for us. No one likes loving people who constantly reject and turn away from them. God is no different. He wants us to search for Him with our entire being.

For me personally this means that I need to spend more time in devoted prayer to just loving God. I need to study scripture so that I can learn who the Father is. I also need to ask God to show me who He is.

I need to get off my phone. My phone feeds me only things of the world, not of the Lord. If I replace my screen time with time spent in the presence of God, then I will be able to know God better. I want the pursuit of my life to be knowing and loving God, because I know that He knows and loves me.

Conclusion:

What can you do to know God better? Can you see how God is pursuing and trying to know you?

Please leave a comment below! I would love to hear how God has shown you that He knows you!