The God Who Sees All

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Therefore [the Egyptians, the Pharaoh] set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor. ~ Exodus 3:11-14, New King James

          Even in sharing this verse on the Kingdom of Egypt putting Israel under bondage for the reason of being "more and mightier than we" (Exodus 3:9, New King James), God always watches over those who belong to Him. Going back to the story of the Prodigal, which I started the other day God sees all that we do. In the case of the proverb: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings" (Proverbs 5:21, King James). The Hebrew word which renders as "he ponders" can also mean "to weigh, make level" or even "watch." Along with that the word that renders as "his goings," in Hebrew, also can mean "an entrenchment, track, course," and even "ways."

          The point is God notices which way we all go. As the writer of this proverb is saying, "God watches over man's affairs, and looks in the way [the man] goes." If we then go back and look at the Prodigal Son parable we can say that "when [this son] was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him" (Luke 15:20, New King James). But if all of this is saying God sees everything a man does, why doesn't He give each of us what we truly deserve?

          Let's think on this a moment: we can say that God is a just God. It would mean that God is going to give to each man what his due reward is. If there was no sacrifice Christ made on our behalf that means no flesh would ever survive. The meaning is then that not one person would be able to enter Heaven's gate to have a place with God. But we also have to consider what Jesus is telling those in Luke 14: "So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men [those who were too busy to bother coming when they were invited as they thought themselves too important] who were invited shall taste my supper" (Luke 14:21-24, the brackets are my thoughts). 

          I see two things going on. One is that there are those who practice a form of religion, without being a follower of Christ, who has come into the church to destroy the works of God through the church; "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15, New American Standard). These who come into the church, doing as they will, making it look like they follow God are doing the will of their actual father, "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8b, Berean Study).

          The other is that there are also those who claim they walked with God when they were younger. These have fallen away and claim, overall, "There is no god." To this I have this to say, "How can you claim there is no God, but you walked with God before you realized there was no God?" Does this make sense in the least bit? These people claim God is hateful, that God is an angry God, that somehow God is, as Richard Dawkins said, "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."

           These who claim there is "No God," it stands to me come across as the servant given one talent, given their view that they hold the same view as the servant: "Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours" (Matthew 25:24-25, Holman Christian Standard). Mt point is still the same: God sees all that a man does, where he goes, what he plans, and what he purposes in his heart. It is why the writer of the proverb said, "The Lord sees everything you do, and he watches where you go" (Proverbs 5:21, Expanded). 

          If God rewarded, however, to each man according to their faith and the lack thereof, then it stands that God will give to some life eternal and others to eternal separation. And that's the difference between the view of God being harsh, hard-hearted, evil, and all the other arguments true non-believers have. They claim they know what God is like. But wait, how can they truly know what God is like when they claim there is no God? Do you see why this argument is inconsistent? God will reward everyone, because He sees all the steps all men make. Remaining in sin, claiming that you have the answers--even I don't have the answers, not all of them--manes you have "no place for God." You don't want Him at work in your life; you don't want Him dealing with you or the darkness within your heart. You simply don't want a heart change.

          However, those who have caught a glimpse of God, who realize His graciousness, His mercy, His patience; He has no complaint whatsoever (the best term I can think of for long-suffering: uncomplaining) with us. He wants to see us as the prophet declares: "Come, let us discuss this," says the LORD." Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18, Holman Christian Standard). Hell is not the place for any man, woman, or child. Heaven is where mankind should strive for.

          I know I covered a lot here. But I want everyone to see the same God as I do. Yes, He is hard on sin. He hates sin. He will humble the proud. He will bring everything that seems lofty low. He will exalt the things that are lowly. We, in choosing humility, in choosing honesty, and want--desiring--a changed heart will receive God's blessings. But by choosing against God we're saying we want to remain in the darkness. That is Satan's plan. God's enemy doesn't want mankind to be illuminated. He doesn't desire for man to see sin as it is, deserving of death. As a song says, "Step back off that ledge my friend." Come away from the "Highway to Hell." Come before the God of this world, the One whose Son Jesus Christ gave Himself so you have access to God the Father.

          Father, You see every step I make. You know the plans I make every day. You know the condition of my heart. I want You to be known as I know You. Even though Your word, the Bible, is complete I want my name to be listed with those according to their faith; like Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob. I want Your holiness to be revealed. I, for one, am in no place to say who can and can't be saved. That's Your place. I want to always keep Your Son, Jesus Christ lifted up. Because when others see Him, and what He's done on our behalf, can we truly see what You were doing so we could have life and have You in our lives. I pray this in Jesus' name. That You keep going before me in all things. Amen.