By Sheila Barnett
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.” Psalm 119:114 (ESV)
Finding a good place to hide is part of the fun while playing a spirited game of “Hide-n-Seek”. In more drastic circumstances, finding a safe place to hide can be crucial to survival. Using her home as a hiding place, Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983) and her family saved many Jews from persecution and death at the hands of the Nazis during World War II.
In the 33rd chapter of Exodus, verses 12-23, Moses is talking with the Lord about his assignment to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. In verse 15, Moses admits that he does not want to lead the group any farther unless he is certain that the Lord will go with them. The Lord reassures Moses that His presence will continue to surround His people, but Moses asks for more – he wants to see the glory of God. The Lord then explained to Moses that no human could look directly at His face and live. So, the Lord hid Moses in the crevice of a rock. As He passed by, the Lord covered Moses with His hand, protecting him. After the Lord had passed by, He removed His hand and Moses safely saw God’s glory from behind.
Other places in the Bible also assure us that we can hide ourselves in the love and care of our Lord Jesus. Psalm 32:7 (ESV) says, “You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance.” This psalm was written by King David. Prior to his reign as the king of Israel, David was no stranger to hiding. Earlier in his life, David was on the run, hiding from King Saul; a man on a mission to kill him. David hid in various places, even in caves, until the Lord delivered him from danger (1 Samuel 24). In Psalm 32:7, David rejoices because God continues to be his secure shelter.
Each one of us experiences problems and hard times. Sometimes tragedies strike us personally; other times we become discouraged by world events or situations that arise in our own country. While we may not always understand why God allows certain things to happen, believers in Jesus know that He is always the best place to hide when circumstances threaten to overwhelm us.
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) lost her sight at just six weeks old. During her lifetime, she wrote over 8,000 hymns. The chorus of “He Hideth My Soul” describes the protection our Savior can provide: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
“He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land
He hideth my life in the depths of His love
And covers me there with His hand”
Dear Lord, Thank You for being our safe place to hide, knowing that as You cover us with your hand, You are also guiding us into Your perfect will for our lives.