When God Seems Distant

Intro – Little Suzie one night was finishing her prayer with her mommy by her side and she prayed:

Dear God, Please take care of mommy, take care of daddy, take care of my sister and my brother, and please, God, take care of yourself, because if you don’t, we’re all sunk. – Amen! Suzie understood what should be obvious to all of us –– without God . . . we’re sunk!

Do you understand that without God you’re sunk? The children of Israel understood this during the days of their Egyptian bondage and they cried out to God for His help – His deliverance…but their prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears – God seemed distant – uncaring.

But God was very much present, in control, in charge and caring. Look at Exodus 2:23-25…READ.

Exodus 2:23–25 NASB95

Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.

This morning as we consider their experience, I want you to notice 4 things God did. 1st…

1. GOD HEARD.

A. God heard their groaning.

- God heard their plight, their pain, their heart ache

- He was very much aware of what was going on, what they were experiencing.

- And He cared!

B. God hears the prayers of His children!

- Jer. 33:3 says:

Jeremiah 33:3 NASB95

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

- God isn’t deaf or unconcerned.

- He does answer – sometimes yes, wait, no.

- He will answer according to His will, time table, and purposes.

2. GOD REMEMBERED.

A. God remembered His covenant promise with His people.

- He was moved by His own word which He had promised to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

- He had entered into a covenant relationship with them all the way back in the days of Abraham when He called Abraham to leave his homeland and all he knew and to travel to a land he’d never seen before.

- And God entered into a covenant with Abraham and his people to be their God and to bless them beyond measure, to give them a land and make them a people and to make them into a mighty nation.

B. Friend, God remembers His covenant with His children.

- One thing you count on: God will always do what He says He’s going to do.

- There’s no wishy washiness with God. There’s no changing the rules in the middle of the game!

- When God enters into a covenant with you, He is always faithful!

3. GOD SAW.

A. God looked upon them.

- God considered them – their plight, their circumstances.

- Need to understand that God is omniscient. He sees all. Nothing escapes His attention!

- God hadn’t been blinded for a time. And God hadn’t turned His back. He was very much aware of what was happening. And in due time He would respond!

B. Friend God sees you.

- He sees it all. Nothing escapes His attention!

- Nothing is hidden from Him.

- He knows what you’re going through. He knows what you’re facing and in due time He will respond.

4. GOD TOOK NOTICE.

A. God took notice of them.

- Literally the word used here means “knew.”

- The word “was concerned” = to take note of with a view to caring.

- God cared greatly for His people!

- They were His people! And He was about to bless them and bring them out of their bondage.

B. Friend God is concerned about you!

- He loves you more than you will ever realize or understand!

- His poem “HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW!” says…

"HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW!"

When the birds begin to worry

And the lilies toil and spin,

And God's creatures all are anxious,

Then I also may begin.

For my Father sets their table,

Decks them out in garments fine,

And if He supplies their living,

Will He not provide for mine?

Just as noisy, common sparrows

Can be found most anywhere--

Unto some just worthless creatures,

If they perish who would care?

Yet our Heavenly Father numbers

Every creature great and small,

Caring even for the sparrows,

Marking when to earth they fall.

If His children's hairs are numbered,

Why should we be filled with fear?

He has promised all that's needful,

And in trouble to be near.

--Anonymous

Conclusion

So the next time you start thinking or feeling like God is distant or uncaring, remember that He hears, remembers, sees and takes notice of you!