Pondering in His Presence: Known

"The LORD will make Himself known..." Isaiah 19:21a

Known. It is defined as identifying ways that we become aware of someone. We can gain this understanding through observing their activity and involvement in our lives and the lives of others. When God makes Himself known, it is through divine revelation of who He is, giving us personal insight into His character and conduct.

Many of us know the general revelation of God. We see God's presence manifest through nature. Psalm 19:1-2 tells us, "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known." All creation points to a Creator. This is a universal display of God, true for everyone who lives and breathes.

Not all acknowledge the Maker, but every human has the opportunity to see God in this way. It is this general revelation that holds all man accountable, as it leaves everyone without excuse. Scripture speaks of this in Romans 1:19-20 where Paul, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, explains God's anger towards those who fail to acknowledge the Lord. "They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see the invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature, so they have no excuse for not knowing God."

But let's move into something more specific. How does the Lord make Himself known to us personally? Ultimately, it is through His Son, Jesus Christ, but how does He reveal Himself to us individually?

We all long to experience God. We pray for fresh encounters. We don't just desire more information. The introduction to a Bible Study I'm currently facilitating for a group of ladies who meet in my home, started the preface this way: "Do you have any idea how many women's Bible studies are published each year? A lot! Which means that no one really needs another Bible study. What we need is a fresh move of God. What we need is a deeper encounter with Jesus." Ecclesiastes 12:12 puts it this way, "...the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body."

Yes, we want to read and study God's Word, but we long for God to make Himself known through intimate connection. This side of heaven we will never know all there is to know about God, but by His activity in our lives He unfolds more and more of Himself to us.

One of the primary ways God makes His presence known to us is through His Word. It is never a coincidence when we pick up our Bible and our scheduled, daily reading is exactly what we need to hear at that precise moment. If we are not making God's Word a priority, we miss all He wants to communicate to us. Scripture enables us to see the Lord and get to know His character. It is also where He will feed our soul and direct our path. His Word corrects and encourages. It is God's hand-written letter to us, through the scribes who put pen to parchment through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we may know God.

In this passage in Isaiah, the Lord is going to make Himself known through His activity in response to the cries of the people. He listened to their pleas and brought healing for the purpose of a response of worship. That is the reason God always reveals Himself to us. It is not for our benefit, but for His. He makes Himself known so that our praise and glory to Him increases. Too often we make everything about us. When the Lord makes Himself known, He increases our trust and strengthens our faith, which then overflows in all honour to Him alone.

Let's lift grateful hearts to Him today for all the ways He has made Himself known to us.

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