Hide and Seek

(Proverbs 25:2 KJV)  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

This is a fascinating statement. In both cases “glory” (3519b)  is involved.  “Glory” and “honour” are the same word in the Hebrew.  We are looking at clues to the difference between the leadership styles and resources available between God and human leaders.  God has infinite resources and knowledge.  Men are limited, even if they are in positions of power. 

God will “conceal” (5641).  Based on my next comments on “search”, I would come to the conclusion that part of the idea here is to be inscrutable. 

Consider, or try to, the amount of raw information that God has available.  First of all He has the capacity of the ultimate computer.  People are in awe of what computers can do but we need to remember that they are basically stupid tools.  They have almost perfect memory and ever greater speed, beyond that they are nothing.  God has those to the max but you also have to add the the flexibility free will and options granted by awareness.  Add the traditional Biblical elements such as love and holiness.  The resulting package is awesome.  It is no wonder that God is a frightening person. 

Would you really want to know all that God knows?  It is almost a stupid question.  You have all seen what happens to an electrical device when it is connected to too much power.  It burns up or blows a circuit.  Imagine if we had unfiltered access to God.  In His love and wisdom, God must filter what we know and when we know it.  That is another reason why we study the scripture on a regular basis and we can trust the Holy Spirit to reveal what we need.  That is why we see something today that we did not see last time we meditated on a verse.  That is why we can reread the same books and be constantly refreshed.  In my general reading I hate reading books a second time.  In the Word I am perpetually reading Proverbs and it speaks to me each time.

Kings “search” (2713).  This word gives me some insight into this passage.  God knows and sees all.  He does not reveal all.  Do we really want to know when we will die?  A king has the responsibility to seek out truth, possibly to pass judgment.  This has both a physical and mental application.  Our leaders should be applying both.  Kings, presidents, prime ministers, governors, mayors, CEO’s....  All have a responsibility to admit their limitations and seek out the information that will make it possible for them to lead.

So?  Don’t expect God to tell you everything.  Keep seeking and asking but don’t feel like a failure when you don’t find the golden egg.  Give leaders the space and support they need to lead.  They do not have all the answers.  Accept that.  Keep their feet the fire if they aren’t looking.