For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord,
and he ponders all his paths.
Proverbs 5:21
When I was a child, I was convinced that my parents had eyes in the back of their heads. They always knew what I was doing — whether good or bad. Of course, they didn’t, but it sure seemed that way many times. Though my earthly parents did not have the power of omniscience, my heavenly Father does. As Solomon so wisely states: man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord. A few thoughts considering this proverb.
First, the fact that God’s eyes see everything we do and think should strike a sense of fear in our hearts. Many of us have been in circumstances when we do something embarrassing. Our first reaction was to look around to see if anyone noticed. Usually, that reaction is preceded by wrong behavior. Why did we do that? A conscience that is working well. Yet, God saw it. Though our behavior may not have immediate consequences, God noticed it. The conduct or thought did not escape his attention. God’s presence in every action and thought should cause us to stop and think before we act.
Second, the fact that God sees everything we do should cause us to live that way. Many of us would be embarrassed if the Lord suddenly appeared out of thin air when we were doing something that displeased him. However, he is there, and he did see it. Thus, as 1 Cor. 10:31 reminds us, we should live each moment to the glory of God.
Third, the fact that God sees everything should bring us comfort and hope. Indeed, we are never alone. Through hardship and difficulty, we have the presence of an all-knowing, all-seeing God who cares for his people. He sees our steps long before we take them. He knows our thoughts long before we think them. He sees our behavior, and he sees the behavior of others. He is conscious of the concerns his people face, and he knows. When the people of old were stuck in slavery, Moses writes, “God saw the people of Israel — and God knew” (Ex. 2:25). God knows your concerns and your struggles. He is not unacquainted with the plight of his redeemed people. He sees. He knows. Therefore, we can be comforted by this simple truth.
