Editorial - The Lord Does Not See
by Joy Hunting
We cannot hide from God. Men and women as individuals cannot; nations cannot, no matter that they might deny His existence, flout His laws and run their lives regardless.
Back in the prophet Ezekiel's time we read of the Lord drawing the prophet's attention to the fact that the people are doing their deeds in darkness, "for they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land'" (8:12). He points out that they are committing great iniquity; they are very perverse and rebellious, so to put it round the other way, "for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see'" (9:9).
It is the same attitude of underestimating Almighty God that the prophet spoke of a little later when he reported that the Lord has said to him: "Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails'? Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will lay the proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel." But say to them, "The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision ... for I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed ... I will say the word and perform it" says the Lord GOD'" (12:22-25).
Evidently in his day Ezekiel's people were reluctant to believe that the Lord would really send the judgements He had promised. They scorned the prophet's words as being for some time well into the future -- "he prophesies of times far off" . They were trying to convince themselves that God was irrelevant, and His words were not to be believed. Yet the Lord insisted that "none of my words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done."
Just so, let us not think that the Eternal does not see the present situation in the world, and the affairs of His people Israel in particular. He knows the total picture, so why do we wait to turn back to Him and seek His face and His ways?
It's not a case of "the Lord does not see ..." He does indeed see, so we cannot do deeds "in the dark", nor should we think that the Lord will hold off judgement for ever if we refuse to walk in His ways. On the other hand, when we heed His voice and seek His face, we find that "the LORD, the Lord GOD, merciful and gracious, is long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6); "The LORD is long-suffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression" (Numbers 14:18).