Hide & Seek

As a child, other than playing tag, I think Hide and Seek was our most favorite game to play. Who doesn't remember running to hide while someone counted,to usually whatever number they wanted, and coming to find you? Well, now that we're "all grown-up," we are still GOD'S CHILD, if we are saved. He still wants us to "Hide and Seek."

Exodus 33:18-23 gives the account of Moses asking the Lord to see His glory. The Lord had just commissioned Moses to take the people up, and Moses was seeking to not only know God's way, but to KNOW the Lord, and see HIM in His glory, (vs.13 &18). The Lord told Moses that He would make all of His goodness pass before him, and proclaim the name of the Lord, (vs 19).Moses was going to be allowed to see Him as He passed by from behind, because no man in His mortal flesh can look upon God in His glory and live,(vs.20). The Lord told Moses,"Behold, there is a PLACE BY ME, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a CLIFT OF THE ROCK, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by,"(vs.22). Moses was going to be HIDDEN in the clift, or opening, in the middle of the rock, while he was SEEKING the LORD'S face and glory. While Moses was hiding there, he was protected by God's own hand, to shield him from the brightness of HIS GLORY, that would have killed him in his flesh. Only after the Lord had passed by BEFORE Moses, could he look upon the Lord's back parts. If we desire to know the Lord, to see HIS GLORY, and be close to him, we HAVE to hide ourselves in the clift of the rock. This clift of the rock is JESUS. Jesus is proclaimed as the Rock that the church is built upon in Matthew 16:18. He is our foundation for Life, and the strength that upholds us, as He did Moses.When He was on the cross, He was pierced in His side by a sword. This CLIFT of HIS SIDE (vs. a place by me)is where HE HIDES us for salvation and cleanses us with the blood that flowed from it, and COVERS us with it for safety.

Song of Solomon 2:14 says, "O my dove, that art in the CLEFTS OF THE ROCK,  in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance..". The Lord considers us His bride, and loves and protects us as the doves that are hidden in the rock for protection. The phrase "secret places of the stairs" speaks of the secret place of prayer and SEEKING God's face that leads to "Higher ground", just as stairs are a means of going upward, Matthew 6:6.May we learn in the secret places to live a holy life that pleases the Lord to allow us to live on higher ground, and have fellowship with the Lord.

Lastly, Psalms 27:4&5 say, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I SEEK after; that I may dwell in the house of Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.For in the time of trouble he shall HIDE me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock." The word pavilion here means in military terms a tent raised on posts as an ensign or banner. It also means in reference to kings, a covering where his armories are stored for safe keeping. Jesus was raised on a cross of posts over 2,000 years ago, and covers us 'neath the banner of the cross!" He covers us with His Hand for safe keeping and keeps us close to HIS ARMORY, or where HIS POWER of defence is!  The "secret of his tabernacle" once again refers to the quiet place of prayer and seeking God's face in the place of worship.Tabernacle also refers to the body. We are once again HIDDEN in HIM, in the body of Christ! When we are set upon THE ROCK, as the psalmist said, HE up holds us!

No matter how old we are, we NEVER need to stop HIDING AND SEEKING. What better place is there to be here on Earth, "HIDING " in Jesus, and "SEEKING" His face for salvation, safety, and solace?

He hideth my soul, in the cleft of the rock,
that shadows a dry thirsty land.
He hideth my life, in the depths of HIS LOVE,
and covers me there with HIS HAND!