I have hidden Your word in my heart. — Psalm 119:11 On a rainy day like only the Outer Banks can provide, I went to the aquarium, along with everyone else in the area. While in a little hallway, I saw an unusual photo of Outer Banks history — a line of men dressed in uniform, headed by Richard Etheridge, keeper of the Pea Island Lifesaving Station. The photo was more than a century old. Mr. Etheridge was a freedman — a formerly enslaved person who served with the Union in the Civil War. Mr. Etheridge was the first African American to hold such a post at a lifesaving station (picture a Coast Guard outpost before the Coast Guard existed). He and his crew often rescued those who shipwrecked in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, another ominous name for the Outer Banks. (The shoals and sandbars sometimes move so indiscriminately and violently that, before radar, storms could be world-enders, and navigation was a form of rolling the dice.) After being intrigued by the photo in the hallway, I learned one particularly mouth-shutting story: In 1896, the E. S. Newman went down in a hurricane. Etheridge and his crew attempted to launch boats to make a rescue. The waves were too overwhelming for any rescue craft to maneuver, so the team went bodily into the churning water — nine times — throwing a line into the grounded ship and ultimately rescuing every person on board. Until that rainy day, I had never even heard of Richard Etheridge and his courageous company. Pockets of people are learning of the heroic work they did (someone please make a movie) while facing repugnant racism, arson, and robbery. As I think about history's oversight, I'm a pinch pained by their invisibility. Yet I wonder: Had they been any more visible during that dangerous age, would their work have even been possible? Maybe the Pea Island Lifesavers preferred obscurity, so they could do their work in peace without fear of retribution. Hard to say for certain, but we do know that Etheridge and his lifesaving crew pioneered an astonishing work on an Outer Banks island while being overlooked, the lasting effects of which we are only just beginning to understand.1 Turns out, - excellence doesn't always equal exposure.
On and For Purpose For years I've been gabbing about God's penchant for hiding His people purposefully now for a purpose much later. Hidden on purpose, for purpose, purposefully. A sovereign secreting away. We see a repeating pattern of long seasons of concealment in the lives of Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, and, of course, Jesus. When I see a scriptural pattern on repeat, I know to keep my eyes peeled. And when I personally chafe during seasons of concealment (which I often do), I peek into the spiritual rearview mirror, remember I am not alone, and head out on a spiritual treasure hunt. The following spiritual presents were tucked away on the spiritual shelf for a mighty long while: - Joseph: 11–13 years
- Moses: 30–40 years
- David: 15 years
- Paul: 2–3 years2
- Jesus: 30 years
Now, what the Lord was accomplishing during each of those concealed seasons was unique, and we could never fully explore their stories. But we can rest assured that each season of hidden development was commissioned and utilized by a sovereign God. |
|
|
Preparation Perhaps most obviously, there is the gift of preparation in the seasons when we are concealed. We are being made ready for something as yet not made known to us. Interestingly, David's long years between his anointing and his appointing were over a decade. God prepared David and his mighty men to lead Israel through the desperately arduous war games they endured in those hidden desert years. Saul likely never realized that his hunting David was being used by God to make a king and leader out of David. Every battle, every deprivation, and every strategy prepared David to take the kingdom's mantle. These unseen years became a hidden forge that helped to mold him into a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). But it is the earliest story of David's young life that speaks most to my impatient heart about the deep preparation of being hidden. The prophet Samuel, mourning over God's rejection of King Saul, was directed by God to fill his horn with oil (the mode of anointing) and make haste to Jesse's house, where he would find the new king among Jesse's sons. Here, we pick up the story midstream: When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen this one either." Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. — 1 Samuel 16:6–13 Scripture implies that Jesse had brought all his sons to the prophet — after all, a house call from the esteemed prophet Samuel was no garden-variety experience. Jesse proudly paraded out his sons, surely hoping for the destiny-making declaration: "Behold the head that will wear the crown." However, with each passing form of tall embodied glory, the Lord instructed, Don't look at his outward appearance, Samuel; look at his heart. He is not My chosen one. In other words, God doesn't see as the world sees. His omniscient X-ray vision penetrates to the deeper stuff, to what is hidden beneath physical beauty, physical prowess, or even irresistible personality. Some of the wisest people I have ever known have been wrapped in it-takes-time-to-penetrate introversion. Some of the most caring and kind souls have been hidden in social awkwardness. Sometimes the most interesting person in the room is sitting in the corner of it. Sometimes it's easy to overlook these gems. But we're not alone in that all-too-human tendency. It gives me great hope that even the prophet Samuel, who walked in close concert with God, at times focused on the wrong validating elements. Speaking of which, let's dip back into the waters of his story. Read more on our blog… 1. "Freedmen, Surfmen, Heroes: Richard Etheridge and Surfmen of the Pea Island Station," Pea Island Preservation Society, Inc., accessed September 13, 2023, https://www.peaislandpreservationsociety.com/; Historian's Office, United States Coast Guard. "The Long Blue Line: Keeper Richard Etheridge and the Gold Medal Lifesavers of Pea Island." United States Coast Guard, February 3, 2023. https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News /Article/3259413/the-long-blue-line-keeper-richard-etheridge-and-the-gold -medal-lifesavers-of-pe/. 2. Brown-Driver-Briggs, s.v. "qatan," Bible Hub, accessed September 13, 2023, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6996.htm. |
|
|
Excerpted with permission from Seen, Secure, Free by Allison Allen, copyright Allison Allen. * |
|
|
Do you feel overlooked or hidden? Have you been waiting for a long time and wondering if this time is wasted? We can only wonder what God is doing in you through this season, but He has plan for His hidden gems, you. If you're still hidden, then it's not time yet. Hang on and trust Him to do what only He can do in just the perfect time! ~ Devotionals Daily |
|
|
"When we know how deeply we are seen by God, it doesn't really matter who else sees us or doesn't." - Allison Allen You're invited to the Hidden: Finding Delight in Your Life With Christ Online Bible Study! Join us as we study 6 overlooked characters in the Bible and discover the hidden lessons they share… and learn to let go of the pressures to be recognized or be seen! |
|
|
Save up to 46% on study materials, plus receive an original narrative of Mary Magdalene, read by Allison Allen - exclusively at FaithGateway with every study guide or bundle purchase! |
|
|
PREMIUM BUNDLE The Best Value! Get 3 incredible resources and save $30 + free shipping! |
+ Free shipping & bonus original narrative |
This Premium Bundle includes: - (1) Study Guide - The study guide includes Bible study, discussion questions, and prayer prompts. You'll also receive an individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).
- (1) Seen, Secure, Free - The companion book from Allison Allen builds on many of the themes of the study and is a great companion resource to read during or after the study.
- (1) Devotions from the Beach - The perfect summer Bible study companion! Features100 devotions focused on the beach and gorgeous photography.
|
|
|
STANDARD BUNDLE Study Guide + Book |
+ bonus original narrative |
This Standard Bundle includes: - (1) Study Guide - The study guide includes Bible study, discussion questions, and prayer prompts. You'll also receive an individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).
- (1) Seen, Secure, Free - The companion book from Allison Allen builds on many of the themes of the study and is a great companion resource to read during or after the study.
|
|
|
STUDY GUIDE with lifetime streaming access to all 6 videos |
+ bonus original narrative |
Your essential companion for the OBS! The study guide includes Bible study, ancient-world callbacks, discussion questions, prayer prompts. Each session also includes four days of personal study to help you dive deeper into the content. You'll also receive an individual access code to stream all six video sessions online so you can keep watching the videos even after the OBS ends. |
|
|
this devotion with someone who needs it today |
|
|
|
Posts
.jpg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/quality,q_70/resize,m_mfit,w_350,h_350/format,webp)
No comments:
Post a Comment