for he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:14, NIV

 

Isn’t there something comforting and reassuring about being known? It’s an affirmation and validation of our being. As humans, aware of our faults and flaws, being accepted for who we are is important to every one of us.

 

This is something that God excels in. He knit us together in our mothers’ womb (Psalm 139:13), and knows us intimately, better than anyone else ever will. Because God loves us, he provides for us regardless of whether we feel worthy of his love or not. I love knowing that God knows me exactly as I am and that there is nothing hidden from him.

 

The beautiful Psalm 103, in praise of God in his holiness and grandeur, overflows with the benefits his people receive from him through his love and compassion spelt out line by line by the psalmist as he describes each of God’s qualities.

 

Then, in three short lines, he describes the object of God’s love and attention – man – formed from the dust: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourishs like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” (Psalm 103:15-16) And yet, we are so precious to God that he “redeems [our] life from the pit… crowns [us] with love and compassion …” and “satisfies [our] desires with good things so that [our] youth is renewed like the eagle’s”. (Psalm 103:4-5) And, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”. (Psalm 103:12)

 

Although God gives us so much, he doesn’t expect more from us than we can give; however, he woos us and, as we respond, he will take us out of our comfort zone to teach us to trust him, and to show us that nothing is impossible with him by our side. Because God knows what we are made of he knows our limitations and stands with us through our trials.

 

The Bible is full of ordinary human beings, like us, who did extraordinary things for God because they stepped out in faith from their comfort zone when he called them and led them each step of the way. Think of Moses, so humble, fearful even of speaking to Pharaoh, yet, trusting God, leading 600 000 people out of Egypt and in the wilderness for forty years.

 

Or Gideon, a fearful, cautious man with low self-esteem whose response to the Lord’s instruction of: “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” was, “Pardon me, my lord, but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:14-15) But Gideon went from unbelief into victory as, cautiously following God’s instructions, he beat the Midianites – with three hundred men!

 

God was not deterred by either Moses’ or Gideon’s reticence and honest response to him because he knew and understood their makeup; nor is he daunted by ours. God equips those he calls and only asks for us to trust him.

 

Prayer: Father God, thank you that you know and love us as we are and call us to serve you in your kingdom. Help me to respond by faith, trusting in your unfailing love. Amen

 

 

Dit bring troos en versekering dat ons geken word, of hoe? Dit bevestig dat ons bestaan. Vir ons as mense, bewus van al ons foute, is dit belangrik om aanvaar te word vir wie ons is.

 

Dit is iets waarin God uitblink. Hy het ons in die moederskoot geweef (Psalm 139:13) en Hy ken ons volkome. Hy ken ons beter as wat enigiemand anders ons ooit sal kan. Omdat Hy ons liefhet, voorsien Hy vir ons ongeag of ons nou voel ons is sy liefde werd of nie. Ek hou daarvan dat ek weet God ken my soos ek is en dat daar niks is wat ek vir Hom kan wegsteek nie.

 

In die pragtige Psalm 103 word God se heiligheid en grootsheid geloof en die psalm loop oor van al die voordele wat sy kinders deur sy liefde en barmhartigheid ontvang – karaktertrekke van God wat die psalmdigter reël vir reël beskryf.

 

Dan, in drie kort reëls beskryf die psalmdigter die voorwerp van God se liefde en aandag – die mens – wat uit stof gemaak is: "soos gras is sy lewensdae, soos 'n veldblom, so bloei hy. As die wind oor hom waai, is hy nie meer daar nie en sy plek ken hom nie meer nie." (Psalm 103:15-16) En tog is die mens so kosbaar vir Hom dat Hy "jou lewe vrykoop van die graf, jou kroon met troue liefde en ontferming ... jou begeerte met die goeie versadig. Soos 'n arend word jou jeug dan weer nuut." (Psalm 103:4-5) En in Psalm 103:12 lees ons: "So ver as wat die ooste verwyder is van die weste, so ver verwyder Hy ons oortredings van ons."

 

Alhoewel God so baie vir ons gee, verwag Hy nie meer van ons as wat ons kan gee nie. Hy bevry ons, en as ons daarop reageer sal Hy ons uit ons gemaksone neem en ons leer om Hom te vertrou en aan ons wys dat, met Hom aan ons kant, niks onmoontlik is nie. Omdat Hy weet waarvan ons gemaak is, ken Hy ook ons beperkinge en sal deur ons beproewinge by ons wees.

 

Die Bybel is vol van gewone mense, soos ons, wat buitengewone dinge vir God gedoen het want hulle het in geloof uit hulle gemaksone getree toe Hy hulle geroep het, en Hy het hulle elke tree van die pad gelei. Dink maar aan Moses, nederig en selfs bang om met die farao te praat. Tog het Hy God vertrou en 600 000 mense uit Egipte en 40 jaar deur die wildernis gelei.

 

Of Gideon, 'n bang, versigtige man met 'n lae selfbeeld wat op die Here se bevel: “Gaan met die krag wat jy het, en verlos Israel uit die hand van die Midianiete. Het Ek jou nie gestuur nie?" soos volg gereageer het: "Asseblief, my Heer! Hoe kan ek Israel verlos? Kyk, my familiegroep is die onbenulligste in Manasse, en ek is die jongste in my familie.” (Rigters 6:14-15) Maar Gideon het uit 'n punt van ongeloof na oorwinning gegaan deur versigtig die Here se opdragte uit te voer. Hy het die Midianiete met slegs 300 manskappe verslaan!

 

God is nie afgeskrik deur Moses of Gideon se beskroomdheid of eerlike reaksie teenoor Hom nie, want Hy het geweet wie hulle is. Hy word ook nie deur wie ons is afgeskrik nie. Hy roep ons en vra slegs dat ons Hom moet vertrou.

 

Gebed: Vader, dankie dat U ons ken en liefhet soos ons is, en dat U ons roep om U in u koninkryk te dien. Help my om in geloof te antwoord en op u onfeilbare liefde te vertrou. Amen