Sometimes, I can create distance between God and myself by focusing too much on his majesty. Don’t misunderstand me, his majesty is total and awe-inspiring. You can’t be the creator of the entire universe, have oceans and mountains answer your call, and have time bend to your will and not inspire a bit of awe in a person. God’s majesty can’t be denied, but it’s not the only part of him. In a recent reading of Exodus, I was struck by the total, multitasking, everything-accounted-for, small-detail attention of God.
When Exodus begins, life is horrible for the Hebrews. The relationship between Pharaoh and Joseph has long been forgotten and the descendants of Joseph are living their lives under grueling slavery. But that alone is not enough for Pharaoh and the hatred consuming his heart.
He decides it’s not enough to enslave these people. He needs to control their population to owe them securely under his thumb. And in a horrifying act of violence, orders all the baby Hebrew boys killed. In the midst of all this horror, heartbreak, and violence, one woman comes up with a plan.
Moses’s mother, Jochebed, has been keeping Moses’ existence a secret, but it’s getting hard. Anyone who’s spent any time with a newborn baby knows that they’re not exactly known for being quiet and subtle. Jochebed knows she’s going to be discovered and if that happens her baby will be murdered. So out of desperation she waterproofs and reinforces a basket, puts Moses in it, and floats him down the river in the wild hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll wind up somewhere safer.
Now, even if you grew up without studying the Bible, you know Moses made it and that God had great plans for him. The story only gets bigger and more memorable from there. God was not going to be defeated by a puny king of men. He was going to make his river obey him and take that basket into the heart of the enemy territory to the one woman of power who would take an interest in a Hebrew baby and see him raised in safety. So that one day that baby would grow into a man who would deliver his entire people. There was no way for something like this to just happen by chance. This was God moving in huge cosmic ways to accomplish his purposes for his glory. Majesty. Pure and simple.
But there’s an often overlooked moment in this exchange that I think beautifully showcases God’s attention to detail and his very personal, very loving care of us as individuals. That, in addition to his majesty and power, he also gives us his love and closeness.
Moses’ sister, Miriam has been watching the baskets process and sees the princess pick up the baby. Seeing he’s safe, Miriam thinks quickly on her feet.
“Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.”(Exodus 2:7-9)
I imagine Jochebed sitting at home, trying to keep busy and keep her mind from what she’s just had to do. She’s destroyed and heartbroken. She feels she’s failed her baby in every possible way. Suddenly her daughter bursts through the door and tells her to come quickly and she assumes the worst. But instead, Miriam takes her to the princess of Egypt of all people, who is there with her beloved baby boy, and puts him back in Jochebed’s arms. Not only is her baby alive, but she’s gifted more time with him. That whole precious first year of his life, free from secrecy and fear to just drink in the gift that he is.
And then comes God’s final flourish. The princess tells Jochebed she’s going to pay her to take care of baby Moses. Jochebed has just been handed a sweet and tender miracle and God takes it one step further and has her oppressor fund her, providing not just for the wellbeing of baby Moses, but his whole family. He didn’t miss a single detail.
The little beats of Jochebed’s story is a great reminder to us of God’s nearness and total power. Ideally, none of us will have to float our babies down a river to save their lives, but we will encounter hardships, challenges and heartbreak. It’s a given.
In that, the temptation is always there to feel that God is too busy working on the big, cosmic, long game plans to engage with our immediate trials and heartaches. Contrary to what we think, it’s actually pretty easy for us to believe that an all-powerful God of the universe is working and moving. We accept that surprisingly readily. Where we trip up is in remembering that at the same time of all that cosmic power and glory God still cares about the personal details weighing on no one’s hearts but our own. But He does care.
The things that distress you don’t need to be huge for God to care. The things that distress you don’t have to affect a certain number of people before God will care. The things that distress you don’t have to change the course of human history for God to care. It’s enough for him that it matters you. It hurts you. He knows it. He cares. That’s it. Full stop.
It seems like it would go without saying but I still forget it all the time: God is not a distracted God. Even as he’s working on the huge earth-shaking things of the world, he is aware of your individual needs. If God is telling you to wait, it’s not because he’s too busy elsewhere. You are precious to him and it delights him to meet you in the needs you bring to him. And that’s alongside the big movements of his majesty.
Why? Because that’s how much he loves you. If you were the only human in the world, God would do no less for your care, for his movement of the world, for the sacrifices made for your salvation. God is huge in his majesty and he is close to you personally. He is both.
God will always show up for your needs simply because it’s you. He is not measuring their importance against the rest of the world. The same God who made a way for a mother to be freed from secrecy and paid to take care of her own baby is the same God who is moving for you. Your needs will be met with no less totality and love.
So take heart, Christian. Whatever you are struggling with, God is aware and giving you his full attention. You have his majesty and you have his nearness. He will do great things for you with both.
Let’s find some joy,
A
Avalon Robinson Author 