Thursday, March 13, 2008

What Are You Looking For?

People throughout the Bible have been asked this question.
  • Joseph, in Genesis 37:14-16, while wandering around in the fields, was asked this. He was looking for his brothers. Oddly enough, finding them didn't work out so well for him.
  • Micah (not the prophet) in Judges 17:9 asked a man, a Levite, what he was looking for. The man's reply: "I'm looking for a place to stay." Micah quickly hired him to live with his family and serve as their priest unto the Lord, since this was a time when there was disorder in the religious and political landscape.
  • In Samuel 8-10, Saul was out looking for runaway donkeys; he was ordained king instead.
  • Simeon, in Luke 2 was looking for the hope and redemption of Israel, the Messiah. He saw it, in the form of an infant boy brought to the Temple by Mary and Joseph.
  • Matthew 26:59-61 records the chief priests and Sanhedrin for false evidence against Jesus. They found it.
  • The women were looking for a dead Jesus, but found him to be alive (Matthew 28:5-7).
Some of these found exactly what they were looking for, some found more. Some found unexpected results, and some didn't find what they were looking for at all. 

Biblical characters weren't the only "seekers." At one point or another we all look for something; sometimes we find more, sometimes less. Sometimes we look not knowing for what. Whether it be a new job, security in a relationship or simply hope and peace for an uncertain situation, we all find times in our lives where we're looking, maybe even in desperation. The Psalmist expressed this, too: 
  • Psalm 69:3 - I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
  • Psalm 119:82 - My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?"
  • Psalm 119:123 - My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.
Twenty-twenty vision only comes with hindsight, but looking in the right direction (for God and His promise) will always bring improved perception.

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