We hear a lot about Christians sharing their faith by asking people, "Do you know Jesus?" But I was thinking that perhaps an equally (if not more) important question is, "Does God know me?"
We are starting to study the Book of Exodus in this week's Torah portion (Parashah Shmot) about the birth of Moses, his salvation from the Nile River where his mother hid him in a basket, his growth to adulthood in the palaces of Egypt and his subsequent escape to Midian. Forty years later, God called Moses at the burning bush to go back to Egypt to deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of slavery.
God says he saw their suffering, heard their cries and remember His covenant with the people of Israel through their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Scriptures tell us that God 'knew them'.
"Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God 'knew' (yada) them." (Exodus 2:23-25)
The word in Hebrew for 'knew' is yada יֵּדַע
This can be a simple 'knowing' or it can also indicate an intimate, covenant relationship such as marriage, as in: "Adam 'knew' (yada) יָדַע Chava (Eve) his wife and she conceived and bore Cain..." (Genesis 4:1).
God's relationship with the people of Israel is more than just that of a casual acquaintance, like, "Oh ya, I know John." God remembers that He is in a covenant relationship with the children of Israel, as between a husband and wife. When a man 'knows' his wife, they become 'one flesh' (basar echad) and can bring forth life.
Do we have this kind of relationship with God where we are one (echad)? A relationship of intimacy that brings forth life? Does God 'know us' in this way? The answer to that question can have eternal consequences.
The other day, I began to ponder this question: "Does God really know me?" It started when I noticed a sign at the security door of my current apartment building that read, "I'm sorry, but if I don't know you, I won't let you in."
I felt the Lord speaking to my heart, bringing to mind the words of Yeshua,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ " (Matthew 7:21 - 23)
Do we realize what Yeshua is actually saying here?? There are people who call him Lord, who prophesy in His name, cast out demons and even perform miracles and yet they will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Why? Because Yeshua never even knew them!
What?? This sounds to me like people in full time ministry - not just 'pew warmers' or lukewarm Christians. These are people out there doing great things in His name and yet they will never enter the Kingdom. Why? Why does Yeshua not know them? And if Yeshua doesn't know these servants of the Lord, how do we even stand a chance?
The key to understanding is through Yeshua's words, "you who practice lawlessness."
In a Hebraic context, the 'law' is the Torah - the explicit written commandments of God.
These people who will not enter the Kingdom are performing all kinds of religious activities, but they 'practice' lawlessness' - in other words, they do not keep the law (Torah) of God.
This is not just an oopsie or the occasional slip up which we all do from time to time - falling short of the glory of God because after all, there is only One who is perfect and it's definitely not me. This is saying those who 'practice' living outside of the parameters of God's Torah (law) as a way of life.
They may cast out demons and do miracles but do they keep the sabbath on the 7th day as a holy day of rest? They may do wonders and prophesy in 'Jesus name' but do they disregard God's laws regarding which food we are permitted to eat and which are forbidden for God's holy people according to Scripture?
Do these mighty evangelists, prophets and miracles workers worship God in pagan ways? Or according to the ways that God has commanded and instituted for HIs people to worship Him?
These are tough questions.... but perhaps they need to be asked. According to the New Testament, only those who keep God's commandments have a right to the tree of life and the privilege of entering through the gates into the New Jerusalem. "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. " (Rev. 22:14)
People who will not be given access into the New Jerusalem (along with sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers and idolators), are those who love and practice a lie.
"But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." (Revelation 22:15)
Again, this does not refer to people who occasionally tell a little white lie, but those who love and practice a lie.
Those who know that December 25th is not Yeshua's birthday (having discovered that this originates in a pagan worship of the sun-god); and yet they still choose to love and celebrate it as the 'birth of Christ', are loving and practicing a lie. I'm not judging people for how they live out their faith; I'm far beyond that, having come to realize that only God can truly judge. But it seems to me that these are important issues to think about...
Do we love our religious traditions (even if they're a lie) more than we love Truth? The most important commandment, according to Yeshua, is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. (Matthew 22:37)
How do we know we love God?
Deuteronomy 11:1 says, "Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always." We love God by keeping His charge, His statutes, His judgments and His commandments (laws).
How do we express our love for God? Through our obedience to His commandments: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)
Does God 'know' me? Sure, God 'knew' the Israelites, but does He know me??
Let's be honest - there are times when God feels so distant that we question whether or not He 'knows me'. Even though I try, by His grace, to live within the parameters of God's commandments, I have felt this way many times. God 'knew' the Israelites; but how can I know that God knows me personally?
How do we know, when we come to the gates of the city, if He is going to welcome us inside with open arms? or say, "Depart from me, I never knew you." Because if He doesn't know us, He's not letting us in.
Yes, I believe that a large portion of the answer to this question depends on whether or not we are keeping the Torah or practicing lawlessness. God gives us free will to choose.
The Word of God says of those who turn a deaf ear to the law (Torah), even their prayers are an abomination to God (Proverbs 28:9). Whoah!
We can't just live loosey goosey any way we feel like it and expect the doors to open wide. I don't believe that's how it works. God desires obedience rather than sacrifice.
But it's not just about keeping the law either; God desires an intimate relationship with each one of us where we can talk and listen to one another. As I was pondering this question, I asked, "God, do you really know me?", and God answered me with this word:
"Before you were formed in your mothers womb, I knew you. Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)
I wept to think that the One True God, who created the entire universe would stoop to know me and to have a plan and purpose for my life, even pre-birth. We don't need to be perfect to be known by God; we must only receive a new heart and new spirit that longs to walk in His ways and keep His commandments.
" I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My laws, and you will keep My commandments and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
See you in the New Jerusalem...
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