ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tokonaki Fepueli 25, 2023

When God Knows   ידע

KO E TAIMI ‘OKU TOKANGA‘I ( ‘AFIO‘I) AI ‘E HE ‘OTUA

EXODUS 2:24-25

AND GOD HEARD THEIR GROANING, AND GOD REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM, WITH ISAAC, AND WITH JACOB. GOD SAW THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL-AND GOD KNEW.

‘EKISOTO 2:24-25

24 Pea na‘e ongo‘i ‘e he ‘Otua ‘enau to‘e, pea ne manatu ki he‘ene fuakava mo Epalahame mo ‘Aisake mo Sēkope. 25 Pea na‘e hāngaifofonga ‘a e ‘Otua ki ha‘a ‘Isileli, ‘o ne tokanga‘i.

That "God knew" of Israel's sufferings does not mean he acquired fresh information, whereas previously he assumed they were living the Egyptian high life. No, in Hebrew, yada ("know") frequently entails an intimate grasp of a subject based on action. Adam, for instance, was obviously acquainted with Eve prior to joining her in bed, but in intercourse he yada her (Gen. 4:1), Likewise, the Lord was aware of Abraham's devotion before he nearly sacrificed Isaac, but only then does he say, "Now I yada that you fear God" (Gen. 22:12). For God to yada Israel's pain meant that when he heard, remembered, and saw them, that was a knowledge that sank, as it were, into his very soul - and prompted him to act on their behalf.

Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15). God's knowledge of Israel's suffering, and his sending of Moses to shepherd them to freedom, is a window into what our Good Shepherd has done for us. Us he knows. Us he loves. And for us he lays down his life.

"Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths" (Ps. 25:4).