“The God Who knows and Reveals”

Jer 29:23

“…Indeed I know, and am a witness, says the Lord. NKJV 

These words were spoken to Ahab and Zedekiah, two prophets among the many false prophets in Judah, who had joined in the false prediction of victory over Babylon.  They were men of immoral character, who had used the Name of God as giving authority to their lying messages.  Jehovah said to these men, “I know, and I am a witness.” 

Babylon was threatening this group of smaller nations.  They were confused, and sought strength by attempting to have a common outlook and cause with each other.  They attempted to come together in a common cause.  This meeting of the minds was created and urged by the false spiritual leaders.  There was great uncertainty.  What would the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar do in the long run?  How far could we trust these other nations to align with us?  Can the prophets be trusted?  What are we to do with this prophet, Jeremiah, who is prophesying destruction and not safety?  What Judah needed was someone who knew all the facts of the situation which they now faced, and who knowing the facts, would speak them forth, and so indicate to us the true course of action. 

That is why Jeremiah declared that indeed it is Jehovah who knows, and it is Jehovah who is witness.  Jeremiah declared that the Lord knows the evil activities of the prophets, priest, and rulers, and he knows the false things that are being said by these leaders, and therefore argues for the obedience to the words spoken by Jeremiah as the true words of Jehovah.  

Sound policy demands a complete knowledge of facts, and wisdom as to how they bear upon the situation; how therefore they ought to be dealt with. 

Someone has said: “Statesmanship is the art of finding out in what direction Almighty God is going, and in getting things out of His way.” 

To these people of Judah the prophet said that if you want to know all the facts of the case, if you would understand what you ought to do; Jehovah is He that knows, and He is Witness.  What does the prophet fully mean when he states that Jehovah knows? 

Literally when it states that Jehovah knows it means that He knows the facts because He sees fully.  He knows all the facts because the facts are clearly seen and are in the open to sight. God sees all things.  He knows all things.  Man does not see everything.  He never knows all the facts of the case unless he has personally been there to see and to hear.  However, even being that we do not know motivations.  We do not know intent.  We do not know meaning.  We do not know the man.  We do not know the heart.  We never know ALL the facts.  We do not even know ourselves fully.  How can we know someone else?  Man’s observation is limited and incomplete.  

These prophets who are making their predictions, and are using My Name, are after all guessing: “I am He that knows.” 

Not only does Jehovah know, He is also witness to the things that He knows.  Literally what this word indicates is that He knows all.  Not only does He know all, He will reveal all.  He is witness.  A witness declares what He knows.  A witness tells what He has seen.  A witness reveals the knowledge of the facts of the situation.  Only God can be a true witness of facts, intent, and motive. 

It is the idea of a man in a watch tower watching, guarding the city.  He sees afar off.  He has knowledge of impending trouble.  He sees the enemy approaching.  He then makes know from the watch tower what he sees.  He sounds the alarm to awaken the city.   

In the midst of turmoil, in the hour of difficulty, in the perplexities of what to do there is Divine knowledge.  At a time when men do not know what to do or where to turn, and false teachers and prophets believing that they are inspired to speak for God, and becoming very religious in their devotion to their hope of deliverance, it is then that Jehovah speaks: “I am He that knows, and I am He that makes known what I know.”   

God had perfect knowledge of the whole national situation, and of the private lives of men.  Jehovah declared that He knew of the immoral lives of the prophets, hidden behind their public position.  God knew all the facts.  He knew the pride of heart, the ambitions, and the secret purposes of all. 

Beyond the knowledge of men, God knows Himself.  God knows what He has purposed to do.  He not only knew the facts and the forces that were acting, He held them all in His own power, and He knew therefore what would become of them.  “I am He that knows.” 

Moreover, God not only knows everything that men are doing, saying, planning, thinking, believing, He knows Himself and what He is going to do.  God is never taken by surprise by what we do.  He knows what is in our hearts and knowing that, He knows what He is to do.   

“I am He that knows, and I am He that makes known.” 

How is it that God makes things known to us.

Three ways:

1. History
2. Direct inspired messages
3. Bringing us into circumstances which will reveal secrets.

First, by history!

The Hebrews understood things which we undervalue or perhaps forget: lessons of the past.  God teaches men by the history of the past. The Hebrews spoke of the former prophets and the later prophets. The later prophets are what we refer to as all the prophetical books of the Bible, both minor and major prophets. The former prophets referred to by the Hebrews are actually some of the historical books. 

Prophecy is always forth-telling, teaching, declaration, revelation of the will of God.  Consequently, the Hebrews called the prophetical books, both major and minor, as later prophets, and they also referred to some of the historical books as former prophecy.  Why?  They recognized that God teaches men by history; and that in any given hour, if a man would know what God intends to reveal to him for that hour, one sure method is that he shall take time to remember the past, and consider the lessons which the past has been intended to teach. 

In the hour of perplexity we should first look back, and see what God taught men in similar hours of perplexity and difficulty.  It is an evil thing for man not to look back and to think of the troubled times that followed failure to follow God; to forget the deliverances that followed loyalty to God and obedience to His decrees and demands for the hour. 

Secondly, God makes known by inspired messages! 

Men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.  Men were moved, they were borne along by the Spirit of God.  As a ship is caught by the wind, and carried across the sea, so men were caught by the wind and carried along by the Holy Spirit.  Men of olden times spoke God when moved by the Spirit of God.  Men today are carried along by the Spirit into the age that is to come.  We see down the road, not just the immediate activities. 

Men of the Spirit are carried upward to a height of more accurate understanding.  Men of the Spirit are carried outward towards the boundaries of the Divine government.  And men of the Spirit are carried inward to the heart and wisdom of God.   

Not only is God revealed to us by the history of the past.

Not only is God revealed to us by the inspiration of His word.

But God reveals to us, makes known to us His ways, by the circumstances of life.  

Circumstances reveal secrets! 

Moses reminded the people that God had led them in the wilderness, and fed them with manna that He might make them know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.  He declared that God led them in the wilderness to prove what was in their heart, whether they would keep the commandments of Jehovah their God.  Not for God to know what was in their hearts, but that they might know what was in their hearts.  “I am He that knows, and He that makes known to you and I do it by leading you into circumstances in which you will know the truth concerning yourself.   

God is always leading a man into some place, some situation where the thoughts and intents of the heart, where the motives are brought to light and he is forced to look at who he is and make a decision concerning himself and God.  Unless he obeys the light, it will be made manifest before the world, but it is first brought to his own consciousness.   

I must accept the fact that God knows, God sees.  Man looks on the outward man and makes judgment.  God looks on the heart and judges rightly. 

What has God to say to us? 

I, who know you perfectly, completely; I, who know the situation and know the future, I demand complete surrender of your will, submission to my authority, and perfect obedience to my commands. 

What are we to do? 

We must discover what God wishes to make known.  That is the first matter of importance in all of our life.       

Isaiah said, “He shall be keen of scent in the fear of Jehovah.”   

We must be keen and quick to understand what God is saying by this NOW of circumstance.  Read the lives of great men.  Read the history of the church.  Learn from the past.  Learn from your own past.  When has God blessed you the most?  When has God blessed you the least?  What is God speaking to you today in the circumstances you now find yourself thrust into?  What is He trying to reveal to you in your innermost heart? 

Discovery, revelation of the knowledge of God is insufficient!  Acceptance of the divine revelation is still not enough!  In the final analysis, we must be obedient to the demands of God’s revelation.  Our obedience must be complete, immediate, with a heart filled with love and submission to His Divine will for our lives, whatever that may be.