Hide and Seek

One of the favorite games of most children is hide and seek.  It is not just small children who love that game.  The high school students in the camps I have conducted through the years have played some form of that game.  Probably most, if not all, parents have played that game with their children.

I have told the story many times about playing it with my children.  The girls were so much better than was our son.  All I had to do was start asking where Austin was and he would say, “I am here.”  The girls would be quiet and make me find them.  Aubri hid so well one time that I looked in the closet where she was hiding and did not see her.  Finally, I had to give up because I was beginning to get concerned about her safety when I could not find her!

Hide and seek is a game that mankind has been playing with God since the beginning of time.  The first game of hide and seek was played in the garden of Eden right after Adam and Eve sinned by eating fruit from the forbidden tree.  The Bible records, “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8).

Hiding or cowering under the weight of guilt is a natural response for most people.  The feeling of guilt produces shame when someone else is aware of the guilt.  There are others in Scripture whose guilt caused them to hide or run.

God called Jonah into a mission and he did not want to go.  The Bible records his reaction, “But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.  He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish, so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” (Jonah 1:3).  It may not have been guilt that drove him away from the LORD, but he did want to get away from Him.

Another one who fled was Peter and he did go away because of his guilt.  You know his case.  He betrayed Jesus 3 times with cursing and swearing.  Jesus had prophesied that he would do that but Peter vehemently denied he ever would.  As the rooster crowed, Jesus turned and looked at Peter.  “So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:62).

Our guilt makes us want to hide away from God who is seeking us.  However, there is one way to hide so that our guilt is gone not just hidden.  The Psalmist said, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalm 17:8).  Having our guilt hidden away in God and then seeking Him is the only way to play hide and seek with God.

- Mike Johnson