Today, the third post in the Coffee Shop series is on vulnerability. Without it, we cannot have a close, loving, trusting relationship with anyone, not even God. In today’s world, vulnerability is a liability; we must be careful of the people we let in. This isn’t the case with God; He will never take advantage of or use our information against us. In Genesis, Hagar ran into the desert, confused, helpless, and hurt. Only then was she in the perfect position for God to compassionately speak to her, give her direction, and promise her a son. Through her desperation, she felt known and seen. After that meeting, she named God “El Roi,” the God who sees. God sees us when we are vulnerable, even in a desert of our own doing, needing Him. He sees; He knows it anyhow. He only wants us to come to Him so He can show His love.
13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[c] the One who sees me.”
Genesis 16:13
Why Does He Let It Happen?
Sometimes, it doesn’t feel like God sees when we observe the murder or torture of the innocent, but God hates the shedding of innocent blood. We might wonder why God lets these things happen. Just because we don’t see lightning bolts out of the sky striking the perpetrators and justice being done doesn’t mean God doesn’t care or isn’t angry. Since the doors to Eden were shut, humanity has been trapped in a dying world with the god of this world. We live in a world built by generations of those who invite God out of their lives. We reject His laws and kick Him out of society. We say it’s restrictive, but His confines are just. Imagine if the world still embraced the value of life in the simple command, “Though shall not kill.” How different it would be! We live in a world of our making, and it saddens, angers, and disgusts God when the innocent suffer in this world.
These six things the Lord hates,
Proverbs 6:17
Yes, seven are an abomination to [h]Him:
Hands that shed innocent blood,
The Perfect World
We were created for the perfect and sinless world of Eden. Adam and Eve walked with God and one another in total nakedness without fear. There was no murder, pain, or tears there, and vulnerability wasn’t a liability but a treasure to God and a point of intimacy. When we see terrible things happen to good people, we may wonder where God is, but there’s something else we can and should do. Invite God into that situation and our lives through prayer. As we do, we tap into God’s heart and power to comfort the victims, and He answers. This is how we change the world. We change our world by inviting Him into our lives as Lord and submitting to His rule and law. His will is that we love one another and protect the innocent. God tells us in Isaiah that He doesn’t answer the prayers of those who do evil and shed innocent blood. He can’t.
Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet rush into sin;
Isaiah 59:6-7
they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.
Let Us Pray
Lord, it’s so difficult to see such great injustice in the world right now. You see and know the injustice and hate it more than we do. I pray for those worldwide; I lift their pain and fear. I ask that you deliver the innocent from the ones who are too strong for them. I commit to bringing Your kingdom into this world by allowing it to rule my life.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:34
