One Step Closer

Press on to know the Lord … Hosea 6:3

The word radap (press) in the Hebrew language means to “pursue, from behind, harass”, and it denotes the way a hunter pursues food. I find a distinction with each of those meanings. Each one adds a rich layer to the interpretation and application of the truth in God’s word. As I began meditating on this scripture, I could feel the Lord saying I want you to want me …. I want you to follow behind (after) me …. I want you to harass me and not let go … aren’t you hungry? How much fun is it to have permission to harass the Lord? How can I say no? I was reminded of, perhaps, my favorite scripture,

It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
Proverbs 25:2

I looked at people in the Bible who pressed and harassed the Lord—just ones that popped up in my mind. Out of curiosity, who pops up in your mind? Who do you think harasses the Lord? As I read the stories or parables, I noticed a common word that was accredited to them. Faith!

The Woman with an Issue of Blood (Mark 5:24-34) — after many years of illness, after all her money was spent on her illness, she went after (came up behind) Jesus and touched his garment. It says that there was a great crowd pressing around Jesus, but there was only one who pressed in enough to get what she wanted. She knew she had been healed. Jesus knew too that someone pressed into him. He asked, “Who touched me?” The woman came forward and Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well…”

The Centurion (Matthew 8:5-13) — Jesus enters Capernaum, a centurion comes to him and appeals to him (pursues him) on behalf of his servant who is suffering. Jesus says, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion, understanding authority, says to Jesus, “…no need, just say the word and he will be healed.” Jesus says, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” And the centurion’s servant was healed that very moment.

The Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28) — Jesus went to a different region and a Canaanite woman came crying (pursues him), “Have mercy on me, Lord…my daughter is severely oppressed by demons.” Jesus didn’t say word but kept walking. She keeps crying out (following after). Jesus tells her that he is sent only for the lost sheep of Israel. She came and knelt before him (keeps pursuing), “Lord, help me.” Jesus leads her a little further with a provocative statement, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She responded back (ahem! harasses Jesus), “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Jesus finally says, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.”

It takes faith to believe that the very things we want, need, desire are hidden in the depths of everything Jesus is. Curiosity about Jesus will find us close to him, pressing around him like the crowds, but it is faith that will take us one step closer. Faith makes us press in and touch him. Faith makes us open our mouth and appeal to him. Faith makes us cry out and not take no for an answer—to keep asking. Jesus will respond to our pursuit of him; he can’t ignore our faith. It starts with our salvation, but it doesn’t end there. Our pursuit of him and his pursuit of us is constant throughout our lives as disciples.

One more thing. Of course I thought about the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8). Jesus tells this story about a widow who seeks justice from a judge who neither fears God nor respects men. The judge refuses her for a long time, but she keeps asking and she keeps bothering him. The judge finally gives her what she asks for. Jesus says, “Will not God give justice to those he pursues, who cry out day and night?…when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” I’ve always been challenged by the widow’s persistence. I want to be that gutsy, that faithful. But even more, I love that it was the judge she kept pursuing rather than her adversary. I wonder how much time I’ve wasted in my life, or prayer life, trying to shoo away the enemy? I can’t convince my enemy to leave me alone. Pestering is what he does—kills, steals, and destroys. BUT!  Oh, and it’s a big but! I know the Judge. I know the Creator. I know the Way, the Truth, and Life. I know the Healer. I know the One holding everything together. I know the Savior and he hears my cries all day and all night.

So, in what ways are you being robbed? Or, in what ways is our enemy stealing from you? Do you need healing? Do you need deliverance? Do you need salvation? Is there a circumstance that just isn’t right with you? Let’s take one step closer to the Lord and start asking him about it. Let’s harass the Lord. He wants to be known, he wants to teach us how to pray. Press (pursue, from behind, harass) on to the know the Lord.

Previous posts in this series: Pursuit