Who Does God Know?
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7
Take Refuge – Does God know you? Before you are quick to reply, consider the words of the prophet Nahum. Our theologically attuned church culture says, “Why, of course. God knows everything. Certainly He knows me.” But Nahum draws our attention to something far more personal. I don’t want or need a god who knows me as just one more of the plethora of created things. I want and need a God Who knows me personally in my time of trouble. Nahum says that God absolutely knows some of those who need protection. He knows (in an intimate, personal way) those who take refuge in Him.
There is a startling and uncomfortable implication in this verse. God does not know, intimately and personally, those who are in need of rescue, but who do not take refuge in Him. They are excluded, not because God rejects them but because they seek help in another direction. Since they do not take refuge in God, He makes no effort to shelter them. They are unknown to Him. He hears their words, but that does not imply that He listens.
Did you let that sink in? Human beings in crisis almost universally call out to God (or some kind of god) for protection. But Nahum tells us it’s a waste of time. God doesn’t know them. My desperation for assistance does not qualify me to receive God’s personal care. If I want God’s intervention, I must take refuge in Him. What is amazing is that my desperation is not enough to bring God’s attention. Calling on God as the last resort is hopelessly grasping at straws. It won’t work. Why? Because taking refuge is first a change in my thinking and attitude before it is a direction in my behavior.
The Hebrew word is hasah. It is a very odd word. First, as a verb, it only occurs in the simple active sense, and almost always in the first person. In addition, it is almost always found either in the Psalms or in prayers. The range of its meaning is very tightly controlled. It is essentially a mental attitude of one who, as a worshipper, places his hope and expectation in God no matter what the outcome may be. In other words, I set my life on God and let Him determine the outcome. That is taking refuge. It is not primarily about being rescued according to my desires. It is primarily about turning everything over to Him.
And now you know why it is fruitless to call on God as a last resort unless I am a worshipper who is ready to let God do whatever He wants to do. Anyone who wants rescue according to his own plan is not known to God.
What about your last crisis? What kind of refuge did you look for?
