Hide and Seek With Yahweh

Most of us have played some form of "Hide and Seek". That game where the group hides and the one who is "it" has to count to fifty with their eyes closed and then try to fine those who are hiding. It is a pretty simple game for children. There are also variations by other names like "Sardines" or "Mafia" for the more mature crowd who think they have out grown the simple game. The game can be pretty fun, unless no one looks for you. My question for today is, "Does Yahweh play hide and seek with His children?" If so who is "it"? Does God do the seeking or is that my part? If God is entirely sovereign then why would He ever seek me? Doesn't He already know where I am? Is it possible we occasionally trade roles? You know, where one day I seek Him and on another day God seeks me. So today's question is, "Does Yahweh play hide and seek with His children?" It seems that He does, at least when you look at the Scriptures. It may well add a more personal dimension to the relationship we share with Him, and may raise some of unwanted questions. It may elevate ares of tension we often ignore or avoid as it can tax our little brain cells. The game begins way back in Genesis chapter three.

Six amazing days of creative power has found Adam and Eve placed in a pristine and perfect garden. There is an unimaginable variety of food to eat and animals to tend and enjoy. However, there is that tree over there with fruit so pleasant to the eye and the serpent said it would make them wise. How upset could the creator really get if they took just a taste? The deed is done. Disobedience now marks their lives and they feel vulnerable so they hide. "Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). "Where are you?" God comes seeking the disobedient, the rebellious, the one who has made the choice to turn away and hide. Amazing grace as the Lord comes seeking the ones who are hiding. David actually invites God to come find him, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments" (Psalm 119:176). Ezekiel gives us the voice of the prophet confirming God's commitment to find us, "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick" (34:16). Messiah also comes to find us, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). God is the one who comes to seek the lost, wounded and wayward. David also reminds us that we honestly cannot hide from the Lord, see Psalm 139 for the details. God, His Son and His Spirit seek those He longs to be with.

On the other hand we also play the part of the ones who seek. Moses gives us this promise, "Seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29). David tells us God will not forsake those who seek Him, Psalm 9:10, "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You". )Actually, David tells us to seek the Lord at least a dozen times throughout the Psalms.) Messiah also tells us to seek, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). However, it appears there will be a time when we can no longer find God. "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). So, maybe now is the time to engage in some hide and seek activity with the Lord, before it is too late.

This does leave us with the question of who is "It". Are we the seekers or is that God's part? And why does God seek if as a sovereign being He already knows where we are? Is this a different kind of seeking? Does this cosmic game last a life time or do we find Him and the game is over? Can we get lost once we are found? It seems the more you think about all those hide and seek verses we end up with more questions than answers. Is David right that there are times when God hides from us, "And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble" (Psalm 69:17). God hiding does not sound all that comforting to me.

Perhaps that is not the point after all. Maybe it is less about who seeks and who hides and more about the game. Hiding and seeking demands interaction between the participants. It builds into a relationship. As we seek the Lord in times of trouble our trust can grow as He reveals himself to us. As with David, there is comfort in knowing that this lost sheep has one seeking him who will never leave or forsake me. It might just be that the Lord has called me to play a little "Hide and Seek" and I have been too busy to seek and to distracted to know I need to be found. The Word of God is filled with the stories and accounts of His playing Hide and Seek with His children. It seems we are always in need of being found and that we should be far more motivated to seek Him than our hectic lives allow for. With all we face in the world we live in it might just be time to step away from the chaos and play a little Hide and Seek with Yahweh.