The God Who Sees
Hide-and-seek rated as one of my favorite games growing up. When the ‘seeker’ closed her eyes and counted to ten, the neighborhood kids scattered. Of course, some of our hiding places were in plain view. But every now and then, we’d find a spot so perfect the seeker would give up and head inside for a snack. As adults, we’d sometimes like to hide when situations turn awkward. But when we face fear, sickness, and isolation, we long to be noticed, understood, and cared for. And thankfully, we have a God who sees.
The Bible introduces us to a woman who lived two thousand years ago and struggled with these same needs. She suffered for twelve years from a hemorrhage, and Mark 5:26 tells us she spent all she had trying to get well. Not only had she not been healed, she grew worse. She also was considered ceremonially unclean. Imagine her despair and loneliness.
One day, the woman heard about Jesus. She joined the crowd following Him, believing that if she just touched His cloak, she would get well. When she came up behind Him, she reached out and touched His garment. Instantly, she was healed.
Jesus immediately turned, and amazed His disciples with a question. ‘”…Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?”‘ And He looked around to see the woman who had done this.’ (Mark 5:30-32 NASB)
The disciples saw crowds. Jesus saw individuals. When the woman realized Jesus had noticed her, she fell at His feet. Jesus called her by the affectionate title ‘Daughter,’ and assured her that her faith had made her well (literally, saved her). She could now go in peace.
Though most likely no one else paid attention to this woman, she didn’t escape Jesus’ notice, and neither do we. He not only sees our world today, He knows each person in it and the specific struggles we face.
One of the names of God recorded in the Old Testament is El-Roi, the God Who Sees. He is powerful, yet He is personal. God knows our hurts, fears, and tragedies. He invites us to come to Him, to let Him replace our weariness with His rest, our despair with His hope, our anxiety with His peace.
The God of this universe loves each of us with a powerful, unfailing love. He sent His Son to seek and to save us. Like the woman in the story, we can find peace. We only need to come to Him.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)
