A HIDING PLACE

I found a set of these delightful wall ornaments some years ago and it was 'love at first sight'.  They were not expensive, but I think I would have bought them at any price. (almost!) 

I love the way animals find their 'cozy' places, where they can hide or have their young. 

We are all experiencing some degree of isolation because of the pandemic Covid 19 virus  we are trying to avoid.  We are 'hiding' in our homes where we feel comparatively safe. 

Isn't it instinctive to want to 'hide' ?  to be safe?  

We have a God-given need to hide from the  things that frighten us. We are uncomfortable if we feel exposed or vulnerable.  Why? It is a 'gift' from Him so we are motivated to seek our hiding places in Him. 

There are many scripture verses that speak to our need of a hiding place. 

One of my favorite verses is in Proverbs 18:10 which says , "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe."   Isn't that beautiful?  

What is the 'name of the Lord' ?  Names in the Bible are synonymous with character so what this verse is saying is the the character of Jesus/God is a very safe place.  Why ?  God's character cannot change - His promises are true yesterday, today and tomorrow !! 

 I love the mind imagery of a strong tower ... not  only is a tower strong (can't be easily knocked down)  but it is also 'high' -- out of reach of the dangers that prowl below. 

We might say ... 'okay, that's really nice, but what does that look like?" 

I found a beautiful verse that I think illustrates this for us. 

It is  found in Isaiah 32:2 and it says, 

"A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,

and a  cover from the tempest, 

As rivers of water in a dry place,

As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."  

"A man" -- who is this  'man'?  The answer is in verse one that speaks of the coming King of Righteous that will reign .... This can only be a prophetic pointing to Jesus ... and what will He be but a 'hiding' place for those who put their trust in Him   

Let's look at this verse closer ....  

"A hiding place from the wind"  -  a wind can be cold, it can be destructive, it can blow things away or blow things in ...  Events, circumstances 'blow' into our life, they can be so destructive... though we try to stand the wind is strong and threatens to blow us over...   We need to find a place where the wind cannot touch us ... where we can 'hide' from the destruction and evil intended against us.  Can we find such a hiding place in Jesus?  Yes, of course... He says.. " These thing I have spoken to you, that IN ME you may have peace. In the world  you will have trouble but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 ..

Jesus has overcome (worked for our good) every trouble that could blow our way ... IN HIM we are safe ... no matter what ! 

 "Cover from the tempest' --  The Hebrew word translated 'cover' is more than just a cover - it also means 'secret'  .. so a full meaning of this phrase  is that this is a 'secret' hiding place from the 'tempest'. 

Hebrews 13:6 "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear .. what can man do to me?"  In a 'secret' hiding place we are really safe - because the enemy cannot find us .  If our hiding place is not secret... then we still feel vulnerable because we know we are not safely 'hidden'.  

A tempest is a flood or a violent storm.  We all have times in our life where we feel we are overwhelmed, the waves are just too high - we know we will be swept away with the storm that has hit us.  But Jesus promises a 'secret' place where we can hide even from the most violent storms of life.   Why? How?  By simply keeping our eyes on Him and putting our hand in His... If we, like Peter, look only on the waves under our feet, we will sink ..   We need to stay IN JESUS, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that our hiding place in Him is 'secret' known only to Him and us. 

"Rivers of water in a dry place' -   Hunger is one thing, but thirst is another.  To be thirsty where there is no water is unbearable. And we know without water, our life will quickly be snuffed out. 

Yet, here is a hiding place when we find ourselves in a dry place where  there is no water in sight... we feel hopeless .. there are no answer, there is no relief !  Our throats are parched, our lips cracked. 

TAKE HEART! We have a hiding place beside rivers of water of life !   Does Jesus not say, "I am the water of life?"  (John 4:10, Rev. 22:17) 

  If you find ourselves in a dry place ... dip your cup in the river that flows crystal clear and drink all you want of the water of life.   

"A shadow of a great rock in a weary land" --  If you have ever found yourself somewhere where the hot sun is beating down on you, and you look for shade and find none, you know how it feels to long for a cool hiding place.  

 So also in life we have all found ourselves where the 'hot sun' of life has beat down on us for so long we are exhausted from the heat , long for relief, knowing we cannot go on for much longer ... but we look around and find no earthly answers that promise relief from our physical, mental or spiritual exhaustion.  

 Yet, we do have a hiding place .. Jesus, our Rock .. yes.. a GREAT Rock, provides the 'shade' we need .. .We can sit in His shadow, comforted by the relief that welcome shade provides.   The sun is still as hot as it ever was, but sitting in the 'shade' we do not suffer the heat.  We are in a secret hiding place, we will not be disturbed.  

 "Therefore thus says the Lord,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.He who believes in it will not be disturbed."  Isaiah 28:16

Do you need a hiding place?  It is waiting for you ..