“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deut. 7:6-8).
God had a special purpose for the nation of Israel in working out redemption. What to many looked like an insignificant people in the midst of a great empire was in fact a people chosen by God. When one looks into the New Testament to the number of the saved, one finds that there are “few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:14). Like Noah and his family, saved is more important than being among those who perish. Consider a few things taught in the Bible about God’s special knowledge of His people.
1. He Knows Your Name. Jesus stated concerning himself being the good shepherd, “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out” (John 10:2-3). John wrote further of the shepherd’s knowledge of his sheep, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14). The New Testament clearly states that the saved have their names “in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 20:15). There are many researchers who simply count responses only to tally a number for the total responses. A census, a political poll, a list of head counts on the number of deceased by a certain illness, etc. make the person behind the information no more than a number. God knows all totals yet His people are called by their own name. One is not just another number with God.
2. He Knows the Number of Hairs on Your Head. Jesus stated, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). Here is a magnified view of God’s intimate knowledge of man. Attention to details is a keen insight of God’s intelligence. There is a closeness to God found here in that he cares for His.
3. He Knows the Nature of Your Heart. John wrote, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” (1 John 3:19-21). The obedient child who walks in the light (cf. 1 John 1:7), confesses his sins (cf. 1 John 1:9) and keeps doing those things that are pleasing in his sight (cf. 1 John 3:22) have an assurance in the day of judgment before God. As weak as men are in their trying and as sensitive to personal shortcomings as each knows, God understands the nature of His children’s hearts and gives confidence through His word. Where the world may never let anyone forget their failings, God soothes the heart and assures the will of man to keep on serving.
Jimmy Clark