And I know Thee by Name
There are two specific
passages in the Old Testament where the Bible says God had respect unto his
children. I have noticed that in both of
these passages, similar instances occurred.
I want to highlight these instances in an effort to demonstrate there is
a reason why these instances were common in both passages. I have decided not to go into detail over
these instances; I simply want to highlight them in order to evaluate them. By evaluating these instances I hope I am able
to help the reader understand what it might take in order for God to have this
same kind of respect unto his church today.
The first situation where
God had respect unto his children was when they were slaves in
1 Israel was in
bondage (Exodus 2:23)
…and
the children of
2
A
petition was made unto God by reason of their suffering (Exodus 2:23)
…and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
3
God
took notice of their petition and their situation (Exodus 2:24-25)
4
God
remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 2:24)
…and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
5
God had
respect unto his children (Exodus 2:25)
…and God had respect unto them.
6
God
sent deliverance (Exodus 3:6-10)
Moreover
he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon
God. And the LORD said, I have surely
seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry
by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to
deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that
land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey;
unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the
Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of
The second situation where
God had respect unto his children was when the Syrians were oppressing
them. As you will see… the instances are
frighteningly similar. For a complete
reference to the text of these instances please refer to 2 Kings 13.
1
for he saw the oppression of
2
A
petition was made unto God by reason of their suffering (2 Kings 13:4)
3
God
took notice of the petition and
…and
the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of
4
God
remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (2 Kings 13:23)
…because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them
5
God had
respect unto his children (2 Kings
13:23)
…and
had respect unto them…
And the LORD gave
I am now going to list the
instances side by side so that we can see how similar they really are.
1
2 A petition
was made unto God ----------------- A petition was made unto God
by reason of their suffering by
reason of their suffering
3 God took
notice of their petition --------------- God took notice of the petition
and their situation
and
4 God
remembered his covenant ----------------- God remembered his covenant
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob
5 God had respect unto his ------------------------ God had respect unto his
children
children
6 God sent
deliverance ----------------------------- God sent deliverance
If you were to indeed read
these texts for yourself you will see that the six instances listed are the
absolute crux of these two passages. The
passages are basically identical… and these two passages, where all six
instances occurred, are the only two places in scripture where God says He had
respect unto His children. I have
decided not to go into detail over these instances. I think listing the instances side by side
makes the point itself. In writing this
interpretation, it has been my desire that the reader will use their God given
faith in order to see what is so obvious and even vital… for God to have
respect unto his church today.
I want to quickly explain
three of the six points for edification purposes. These two passages I quoted take place in the
Old Testament, and since we are now under grace, I felt compelled to offer some
explanation.
1
4 God remembered his covenant with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. The word covenant
is the word we should be focusing on.
Now that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins, God will look down
upon His church and remember His covenant through His Son Jesus Christ… not
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Hebrews 8:13, 12:24, 13:20). It is only after God remembers His covenant
relationship with us through his Son Jesus Christ that it will be possible for
Him to have respect unto us.
6 God sent deliverance. In both situations the final result of God having
respect unto His children was that He sent deliverance. We can be fully confident that if we truly
become a church God can respect (Revelation 19:7), He will be faithful to send
His deliverance.
Exodus 33:17
And the Lord said unto
Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found
grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.