Devotional Thought – My Father’s Hidden Hand

22 Aug Devotional Thought – My Father’s Hidden Hand

“His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.” Habakkuk 3:4

What an amazing and yet completely reassuring thought – my Father hides His omnipotence for my benefit. It is surely the most fantastic fiction ever  conceived for it allows me to have freedom of will. He loves me so much that He puts me in the wilderness and tells me to walk alone, but He never leaves my side. He continues to walk beside me, holding on to the hem of my garment. He hides the loving guidance of His omnipotent hand making it appear as if He were not there. He stands afar off and says to me, “Come.” He allows me to think that I am all by myself. He doesn’t let me see His everlasting arms which surround me. He doesn’t let me feel the care that envelopes me lest I should ever dash my foot upon a rock. He conceals the truth that I am totally, utterly and jealously guarded on all sides.  He hides His supporting arm in the mist leaving margin for my personal choice.

If the fire is needed in the darkness of the night, the cloud is needed that much more in the light of the day.  You see, if I were to see the undimmed brilliance of His omnipotence it would destroy my humanity – the height of His creation – and force me to come.  However, I must not be forced to come. I must come of my own free will. I must not be driven from the forbidden fruit by a cherub with a fiery sword. The stars of His creation are driven – they are compelled to give light.  But I’m not a star in the sky, I’m a soul so I must not be coerced. I must choose to love Him because coerced love is no love at all. That’s why God hides Himself among the trees of the garden so that I my feel that I am free. This is why I am so glad that my Father has not completely and totally revealed Himself to me.  This is why I’m glad that He not only gives the rainbow, but also the cloud.

So often men praise my Father for His many powerful voices, but we ought to also praise Him for His silence too. His silence is precious and powerful for it gives voice to my heart. In the silence my heart sings, my faith soars, my imagination speeds, my hope sees, my conscience seeks and my will finds space to love and follow Him. His silence is my song. His shadow shows so much.  His night is my light.  When I don’t feel His hand of judgment I realize the majesty of simply coming because I love Him. It is when I don’t hear the sound of His last trumpet that I can listen to the still small voice of judgment deep within. When the thunders of Sinai have ceased there is found room for the sighing of my soul’s love.  This is why I am so thankful that my Father has hidden the fullness of His power – for now.