THE CHILDREN'S OBSERVING
More young people than ever are now taking an interest in God's creation around us. There are many bird-watchers, flower-seekers, those who study wild animal life, or tend tropical fish and - when the evenings are dark and clear - the star-finders. All this has its value, but especially so when by this means is learned about divine wisdom and the new creation. I often wonder how many of those who observe these things realise that they themselves are being observed by a loving Creator to whom they owe a responsibility! He is called in the scripture the "Observer of men", that is of mankind including of course the youngest of children.
From the Scriptures we learn particularly of three things upon which God looks. You will often have seen the rainbow in stormy weather. As the day declines and the sun goes lower, the bow is seen higher and higher in the heavens. It is God's covenant, or promise, of blessing against a background of judgment and He said to Noah, "I will look upon it". The Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven and, for faith, there is in Him a display of God's faithfulness. We cannot take in the full glory of Christ any more than we can look upon the sun's full light. But like the array of various colours into which the raindrops diffuse the light we can see His distinct and distinctive glories.
Centuries later God said to Moses, "when I see the blood I will pass over you". This was the blood of the yearling lamb for each household, which was put on the doorposts and lintel of the house on the night of judgment. It was a type, or picture-lesson, for us of the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus. This gives us as believers on Him safety from judgment and cleansing from all sin. It is to be noted that the day on which the children of Israel entered the land of God's promise was the day of the year on which the lamb must be taken, and after four days be slain. Thus as we enjoy God's purpose in Christ we remember that His death has secured it for us, or rather us for it.
It confirms the Christian, especially in prayer, to know that God looks upon His own word. In this way we can, as it were, hold Him to the promises which He has made. It was to Jeremiah that He said, "I am watchful over my word to perform it". The prophet had seen in a vision a rod of almond, a tree which is perhaps the earliest to come into blossom in the Spring. The word itself means 'watchful'. Are you keen to read God's word?
J.C.Evershed