I love computer games, especially hidden objects. If you are not familiar with this game, let me explain.Objects are hidden within the confines of a picture, ”hidden among the stuff”, some are obvious, while others are not. The objective is to either look at the picture of the object or at it’s written word. For example there may be the word leaf or a picture of a leaf. In order to progress to the next level, you must find all of the items in a given amount of time and focus is the key. Now there are days when it s extremely easy to focus and success is at a premium, but there are other days when focusing is not so easy. It is thought that by keeping the brain active, dementia may be thwarted, at least that’s my rationale for spending time on the computer playing games.
As I was studying I Samuel 10, I discovered that objects are not the only things that are ” hidden among the stuff”. Israel wanted a king, Samuel calls the people together and lays out God’s instructions allowing them their request for a king. He calls the tribes to come near and the tribe of Benjamin is taken. He then separates them by family and the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken, but Saul could not be found [I Samuel 10:17-22]. Verse 22 says, “Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff”. The stuff is thought to be baggage, household items, carts, weapons, those things the people brought with them to Mizpeh. The baggage must have been quit high, because the Bible tells us in verse 23 that Saul was “higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward”.
Often times as Christians, we hide ourselves among the “stuff”. The stuff of doing and not being. We are so involved in the extras of life, family, school, church, activities and just trying to survive, that we cease to take time to be still, to hear His sweet soft voice. We buzz through our daily devotions just so we can say that we have read His Word today. We offer a quick prayer, usually asking for something, instead of praising, so we can say that we have prayed. We go to church three times a week, all the while thinking about what we have to do when we get home or the next day. Our minds are not on Him, it is just lip service, fulfilling a responsibility to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. God’s Word is filled with “hidden” truths and He has instructed us to study in order to find them. His promises are not hidden behind baggage, but they do need to be sought after. As in hidden object games, some are obvious, while others not so much, but how exciting it is to be successful in finding them. Happy hunting.
About Barb Harville