Who is our God? What is He like?
He is a discerner of the heart.
How well do you know yourself? Have you ever been surprised by something that you have said or done? I think it would be safe to say that we know ourselves better than anyone else knows us, however, there are times that we don’t even know the depths of depravity that plague our own soul. I am reminded of the account of King David in his sin with Bathsheba. Nathan the prophet comes to confront him with his sin, and does so by telling a story about a man who maliciously defrauded another man. The King did not even recognize that the story was about him. Consider:
And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.
2 Samuel 12:5-7
What a sobering thought. Someone knows us better than we know ourselves. David soon realized this, and confessed his sin in repentance before God. In that confession he revealed a very important truth about God that we all would do well to remember. He said:
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Psalm 51:6
God desires truth in the inward parts… deep down inside where no one else can see but Him. Have you been truthful with God from the deepest recesses of your heart? Examine yourself. He knows anyway. And as you will see from our Genesis twenty reading today, this truth about God can actually be a great benefit to you. Abimelech was certainly thankful that God is able to see that his actions toward Sarah came from a heart of integrity, and not deceit or maliciousness. Consider:
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
Genesis 20:6
This truth about God not only reveals His power, but also His compassion and concern for our behavior. That fact that God knew what was in Abimelech’s heart, caused Him to protect Abimelech from further folly and the consequences thereof.
So, as frightening as it may seem that God can see down into the inward parts of your heart, it is also a comfort to know that this same God, that can see into our heart, has our best interest in His heart.
Behold our God!